Thorne expected to deliver

Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington expects striker Peter Thorne to be firing on all cylinders when the new Championship campaign gets under way in a little over a month's time.

The 33-year-old frontman failed to make much of an impression in his first year at Carrow Road, with injuries and indifferent form limiting him to just 23 appearances, only 13 of which were starts - and one solitary goal.

Thorne will clearly be hoping to improve on those indifferent statistics over the course of the 2006-7 season and, according to his boss, the early signs are extremely encouraging.

There have been rumours recently linking the veteran striker with a move to recently relegated Brighton and Hove Albion, but that's news to Worthington who expects the player to be staking a claim for a place in the Norwich first team over the next few weeks.

“Peter had his problems with injuries last season but hopefully that is all behind him now,” said the City boss. “He has worked very hard on his fitness during the summer and has come back in very good shape.

“That's pleasing and now it's a case of keeping up the good work in training, doing well in the pre-season games and trying to earn a place in the side. It's the same with all the players.”

Brighton manager Mark McGhee has been chasing an experienced striker ever since the Seagulls dropped down to League One last season. He has targeted Sheffield United's Neil Shipperley and Danny Dichio of Preston without success and if sources on the South Coast are to believed he has now made Thorne his No. 1 target.

Worthington will continue to dismiss that particular story as paper talk unless he gets a phone call from his opposite number.

“There has been no contact at all - I don't know where that one came from,” he said. “Peter is contracted to Norwich City football club and is currently preparing for the new season with us - that's all there is to say on the subject.”