CHRIS LAKEY Canaries target Robbie Simpson says he won't be rushed into a decision on leaving Conference football behind for a taste of life in the Championship. The Cambridge United striker is a target for Norwich, rivals Ipswich and Leicester - but says he won't be thinking about his playing future until the summer, when his commitment to the U's Conference League survival battle and his studies at Loughborough University are over.

CHRIS LAKEY

Canaries target Robbie Simpson says he won't be rushed into a decision on leaving Conference football behind for a taste of life in the Championship.

The Cambridge United striker is a target for Norwich, rivals Ipswich and Leicester - but says he won't be thinking about his playing future until the summer, when his commitment to the U's Conference League survival battle and his studies at Loughborough University are over.

The 22-year-old - rejected by the Canaries as a teenager - has been in scintillating form for Jimmy Quinn's side this season, scoring 14 goals in his last 15 games and says he is flattered by the interest being shown in him.

However, he admits the prospect of reserve team football doesn't appeal.

“All of this has come up at a nice time, but I have to think of what is going to be the best move for me and my football career,” said the Knebworth-born Simpson.

“Yes, I am studying at University, but all my life I have wanted to be a top footballer and I have worked my hardest to do that from the very beginning. I definitely want to play at a higher level.

“I just want to play football and become as good as I can be and fulfil my potential, and being at a Championship club would improve me as a player. But will I get to play? I have not spoken to those clubs - what do they want from me?

“Cambridge United have made their intentions clear, that they want to keep me and make me a feature of their team and get promotion, but obviously it is the possibility of Championship football we are talking about.

“There are a lot of ifs and buts and I have to consider them all.

“Once everything is out of the way I will sit down with my dad and the manager at Cambridge United. I have not been in contact with any of the clubs that have been mentioned, it is all speculation, but I don't know how much of it is true.”

Simpson's first priority is with Cambridge United, who are a point away from securing their Conference future, which then can secure at already-relegated Tamworth on Saturday.

“All I am concentrating on at the moment is keeping us up,” he said. “We still need a point to be definites to stay up and my mind is on that and my studies.”

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton has admitted his interest following scouting missions by Steve McCall, but with his contract up in the summer, Simpson is sure to be busy.

“Jim Magilton's comments are very flattering and I know I will have a decision to make,” he said. “They are three major Championship clubs and it will take some serious thinking on my part.”

Simpson was part of the City youth system from nine years of age to 16, having been spotted at the former Potter's Bar centre of Excellence.

He played in the first of former Academy boss Sammy Morgan's showpieces matches, against Manchester United in February, 2000, but failed to earn himself a scholarship and moved to Cambridge City in November, 2004, where he spent 18 months before moving to the Abbey Stadium.

“We had a good youth team at Norwich with people like Damian Batt, Dean Sinclair and Ian Henderson,” he said. “I was centre-midfield with Dean Sinclair throughout my Norwich time then I moved to Cambridge City and they made me a striker and I haven't really looked back.”