Newcastle United defender David Edgar has again been linked with the Canaries. The 21-year-old Canadian defender has not played a first team game for the Magpies since the home defeat by Blackburn in September.

Newcastle United defender David Edgar has again been linked with the Canaries.

The 21-year-old Canadian defender has not played a first team game for the Magpies since the home defeat by Blackburn in September.

In each of his five senior appearances this season, he finished on the losing side.

Edgar is reported to be keen to link up with former boss Glenn Roeder in the search for first team football.

City are short of central defensive cover after Dejan Stefanovic was ruled out for the rest of the season by knee ligament damage, while John Kennedy's loan from Celtic runs out in January and it is unclear whether it will be renewed, but chief executive Neil Doncaster warned last week that this season's transfer budget was spent.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are reported to have dropped their interest in 16-year-old City goalkeeper Jed Steer.

The Premier League leaders were said to be ready to make an initial bid of £250,000, plus add-ons, for the England youngster.

But cutbacks at Stamford Bridge have forced them to abandon that plan, according to one national newspaper.

Roeder issued a “hands off” warning last month to any clubs looking to poach the teenager.

He said: “We would do everything we can - everything we can - to keep him. I have a good relationship with both his father and the lad himself.

“They are very much Norwich City people and, as I've just said, you can tell those clubs from me, keep looking.”