CHRIS WISE Robert Green and Dean Ashton are both doubts for tomorrow's trip to Plymouth - but that has got nothing to do with the transfer speculation that continues to surround the Norwich City pair.

CHRIS WISE

Robert Green and Dean Ashton are both doubts for tomorrow's trip to Plymouth - but that has got nothing to do with the transfer speculation that continues to surround the Norwich City pair.

The much admired duo are still struggling with knocks and manager Nigel Worthington will make a late decision on their availability for the Championship clash at Home Park.

Green emerged from last weekend's nasty looking collision with West Ham's Marlon Harewood with nothing worse than a sore head but has yet to receive the go-ahead to resume playing, while Ashton is still battling with the after-affects of a groin injury that ruled him out of the FA Cup tie.

“We still need to see the doctors about Robert,” said Worthington. “A decision about whether he is available for selection will be made after that.

“He hasn't done any training since the weekend. He seems fine but he took a heavy bang we have got to make sure we go through all the correct produces and do our job properly.

“As for Dean, that will be a last minute decision. We'll have to wait until Friday afternoon, or even Saturday morning, to see how that goes.

“The most important thing at the moment is that he gets himself fit and gets himself back to playing football. That is what he has got to concentrate on.”

Peter Thorne will again deputise up front if Ashton fails to make it, while patient understudy Darren Ward will finally make his first league start for the Canaries after over 18 months at the club if Green is ruled out by expert opinion.

The 31-year-old former Nottingham Forest keeper would provide more than adequate cover against the Pilgrims, and could doubtless do a job in the long-term should Green move on during the transfer window. But Worthington wasn't interested in talking up that hypothetical situation yesterday, revealing only that he was keeping an open mind on the goalkeeping situation.

“You are always making plans, you are always looking as a football club - that is ongoing,” he said. “That's not just now - that is all the way through. Whether a player is leaving or not you are always trying to be ready to bring players in. But there is good cover there already.”

That cover includes current third choice keeper Paul Gallacher, who hasn't made a single first team appearance for the Canaries since his free transfer switch from Dundee United during the summer of 2004 - but Worthington made it clear he was open to offers as far as the 26-year-old Scottish international was concerned.

“Paul is in the last five and half months of his contract here and he is available for transfer,” he said.