DAVID CUFFLEY One of Norwich City boss Peter Grant's reported transfer targets north of the border may not be so keen to move on after forcing his way into the Celtic first team.

DAVID CUFFLEY

One of Norwich City boss Peter Grant's reported transfer targets north of the border may not be so keen to move on after forcing his way into the Celtic first team.

Striker Derek Riordan finally got his Scottish Premier League chance for Gordon Strachan's side at the weekend - and responded by scoring his first goal for the club in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Motherwell.

Riordan, 23, the former Hibernian forward, then kept his place for yesterday's 2-0 SPL home win over Kilmarnock, playing for the first 72 minutes.

Since his arrival as City manager, Grant has spoken highly of both Riordan and 24-year-old Celtic midfielder Stephen Pearson, and while he has been quick to shoot down talk linking him with other players in Scotland, these two have clearly impressed him in the past.

Grant's first signing of the week is likely to be on-loan winger Luke Chadwick, whose permanent move from Stoke for around £220,000 is expected to be completed any day.

Meanwhile, the Canaries have dismissed reports suggesting Premiership strugglers Watford have tabled a bid for striker Robert Earnshaw.

The Championship's leading scorer made it 17 goals for the season with a penalty in City's 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday.

And the opening of the January transfer window looks certain to spark interest in the Wales international's services.

But a national newspaper's claim that there had been an offer from Watford, managed by Adrian Boothroyd, once on the Canaries' coaching staff, was rejected at Carrow Road.

“It simply is not true,” said a club spokesman.

Portsmouth were first to be linked with a move for Earnshaw last week when they were said to be considering a £4m bid for Earnshaw, who signed for City from West Bromwich Albion a year ago for £2.75m.

Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers have also been mentioned in connection with the player in the latest round of transfer gossip.

Manager Peter Grant said after the Palace game that he hoped Earnshaw would stay with City for as long as he was manager - but accepted everyone had his price.