Paul Jewell has dismissed speculation linking ex-Canaries striker Robert Earnshaw with a move as “cheap”. Earnshaw was the subject of an approach by Glenn Roeder in January, as the City boss sought to add much-needed firepower to his attack.

Paul Jewell has dismissed speculation linking ex-Canaries striker Robert Earnshaw with a move as “cheap”.

Earnshaw was the subject of an approach by Glenn Roeder in January, as the City boss sought to add much-needed firepower to his attack.

Since then there has been speculation that Earnshaw would return to Carrow Road on a permanent basis in the summer - just a year after leaving in a £3.5m switch to Derby County.

But if Roeder does have a genuine interest in the 27-year-old he will face some stiff competition, with Charlton, Crystal Palace, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest all supposedly interested in the Wales international.

However, Rams boss Jewell hinted that there was some truth behind rumours of an impending departure for a striker who has scored just once FA Cup goal and failed to hit the back of the net in a meagre six starts for the recently-relegated Premiership side.

“There is always going to be talk of players moving on,” said Jewell.

“Talk is cheap and that's why, until someone picks the phone up or speaks to the chairman about a player, I can't comment.

“I haven't had a phone call saying, 'listen, can we do a deal for X, Y or Z?' but it might happen in the summer.”

The search for a new striker will be one of Roeder's priorities this summer, with Dion Dublin retiring and teenage loan player Ched Evans likely to return to Manchester City.

That leaves Roeder with just Jamie Cureton - and Chris Martin, who has been out of the first team picture since the January FA Cup tie against Bury on January 5.