Leon McKenzie will not be allowed to leave Carrow Road despite handing in a transfer request. McKenzie, who has seen only a few minutes of first team action in the Canaries' three games this season, told manager Nigel Worthington he wanted to go after two and a half years in Norfolk.

City striker Leon McKenzie will not be allowed to leave Carrow Road despite handing in a transfer request.

McKenzie, who has seen only a few minutes of first team action in the Canaries' three games this season, told manager Nigel Worthington he wanted to go after two and a half years in Norfolk.

But Worthington flatly refused the request and declared that the striker is a very important member of City's squad.

"Leon is an important part of the football club," Worthington said. "He is highly thought of by myself and the staff and the supporters, and is a very important member of our small squad.

"As far as I'm concerned he is not for sale and will remain at Carrow Road."

The news of McKenzie's attempts to leave the club marked a hectic day of potential departues for the club, with Robert Green looking more than likely to leave.

But the news of McKenzie's request will come as a surprise to many fans who have afforded the 28-year-old cult status since he arrived from Peterborough United in 2003.

The striker became an instant fans' favourite when he scored twice on his Canary debut in a 2-0 victory against Ipswich at Portman Road in December 2003.

In all, he contributed a total of nine goals from 12 starts and nine substitute appearances as the Canaries romped to promotion.

But following seven goals in the Premiership the next season, McKenzie made only 11 starts last campaign due to a series of niggling ankle injuries and off-the-pitch problems and found himself nudged down the Carrow Road pecking order.

Now, he is being kept out of the first team by Robert Earnshaw, and with City's current formation only looking to feature one central striker he has been reduced to substitute appearances.

Worthington has also maintained he wants to sign a big man up front, a move which would look to consign McKenzie to the subs' bench for even longer.