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Worthy takes a right turn after Luton rebuff Howard move

City's search for their first fresh face of the summer headed off in a different direction this afternoon as Canary boss Nigel Worthington revealed that his thoughts were now turning to a right-sided midfielder.

"We're trying on that one," said Worthington, speaking at the team's Scottish hotel as Norwich's well-documented pursuit of Luton hitman Steve Howard appeared to be drawing a big, fat blank. The Hatters were refusing to play ball.

And with another five weeks until this summer's transfer window closes, Luton chief Mike Newell can take all the time he wants - playing one bidder off against another knowing that as every week passes with Howard still at Kenilworth Road so the 30-year-old's value increases.

A player that might be worth one price in the last week of July could be worth double that in the last week of August as everyone gets ever more urgent, ever more desperate to bring a big summer signing in.

Hence, in part, Worthington's decision to move on and try and fill that much-debated right-hand role.

"If we can make something happen in the wide-right area, which is something that we've been searching for as well, then we'll do it," added Worthington, we're trying on that one. It's not moving as quickly as what we would like, but we are trying to make things happen," he added.

As for the Howard rebuff, City clearly had one price in their head, Newell another. And with Newell insisting again overnight that neither Howard nor club skipper Keith Nicholls would be going nowhere on the cheap for now at least the Howard move is off.

"We've made a very fair offer for Steve Howard at Luton. They've come back rejected that offer so - as I've stated before - you're very limited for options in that position.

"Either they're very expensive or not going to really improve on what we've already got, so we've just got to keep searching, keep looking and see what's available in that position."

As for whether that was it, that was the Howard chapter closed, Worthington kept the door slightly ajar.

"You never say never, but it's proved very difficult. He's got a year left on his contract at Luton. As I say, we've made a very fair offer for a player in that position so it's basically with Luton and we'll have to see what happens."

Whether the Canaries end up finding themselves similarly thwarted in their quest for a right-winger - someone to add the kind of threat and service that Darren Huckerby has long offered on the left - only time will tell. In an ideal world, Worthington's next target would be in place for Craig Fleming's Testimonial game against Newcastle United next Wednesday night, but right now football's transfer merry-go-round is spinning very slowly.

"I'd love someone in today, but there's limited funds to play with and it is proving very difficult," said the City boss, relaxing on the team's hotel terrace ahead of this afternoon's training session.

"That's the situation; we'll keep looking at it and if at the end of the day I have to go with the squad that I've got, then so be it. I and the staff will work as hard as we can to make sure that we will get the maximum out of everybody to have a very good season."

Longer-term Worthington admitted that the way the market was, Norwich may yet have to dabble in the unproven end of the market; polishing up hidden gems nicked from Leagues One and Two as opposed to trying to prise such a proven rough diamond as Howard out of Luton's hands.

"What we find ourselves doing more and more is looking at the lower leagues, looking to get those players with potential. Now we've done that many times before, but we've always felt that to have the experience of this league is always of great value.

"But if we've got to start looking lower down and looking to bring people in - younger players that we work with; try and help through as an investment for the club - then so be it.

"It's like anything else - there's not going to be a quick fix. There's going to be a lot of hard work, a lot of determination by everybody at the club and some patience."

Posted By: roland rat, Jul 21, 17:41:27