Giallanza ready to return to England

Former Canaries favourite Gaetano Giallanza could be on his way back to Engand, with League Two side Darlington. The popular Swiss striker, whose Carrow Road career was cut short by injury, was in the north-east last weekend for talks and has reportedly told Darlington boss manager David Hodgson he is ready to sign.

Former Canaries favourite Gaetano Giallanza could be on his way back to Engand, with League Two side Darlington.

The popular Swiss striker, whose Carrow Road career was cut short by injury, was in the north-east last weekend for talks and has reportedly told Darlington boss manager David Hodgson he is ready to sign.

“For me, that is great news,” said Hodgson. “It makes my job so much easier when that happens so all I now need to do is make Giallanza a package which is acceptable to him and to Darlington FC.”

Giallanza, 31, signed a three-month loan deal with Norwich in March, 2000, and made the move from Nantes in France permanent in July.

However, he suffered an horrendous cruciate injury against Sheffield United in October, 2000 and missed the rest of the season and all of the following year and finally, in May 2002, having watched as City lost the First Division play-off final to Birmingham, his contract was not renewed - with City tightening their belts in the wake of the collapse of the ITV Digital deal.

Giallanza returned to Switzerland and has played for Young Boys and FC Aarau.