JONATHAN REDHEAD Norwich City and new boss Peter Grant are being targeted by a Scottish Premier League club which wants to get its hands on the Canaries' top youngsters.

JONATHAN REDHEAD

Norwich City and new boss Peter Grant are being targeted by a Scottish Premier League club which wants to get its hands on the Canaries' top youngsters.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who are currently sitting in the top half of the SPL, want to act as a type of nursery for some of City's young stars and give them the chance for regular first team action as they make their way in the game.

Although the Scottish side have yet to make an approach to City about their proposal, their boss Charlie Christie is a friend of Grant and hopes to set up a scheme.

The pair played together in Celtic's midfield in the 1980s and Christie is hoping the friendship could help swing a deal.

No details of any possible deal have emerged, but potentially the likes of Michael Spillane, Andrew Cave-Brown, Matthew Halliday and Rossi Jarvis, who have all seen first team action in a City shirt this season, could be sent north of the border on a temporary basis.

Several Premiership clubs have tie ups with smaller sides to offer their youngsters games, most notably Manchester United, who link up with Royal Antwerp in Belgium and Arsenal who have a tie up with Antwerp's rivals Beveren. Players like John O'Shea and Ronnie Wallwork, now with West Bromwich Albion, have had spells in Belgium to gain first-team experience.

Christie, whose Highland Capital side pulled off a shock 1-0 win away at Rangers last weekend, said he would contact Grant to talk about setting up a nursery system.

"It's potentially something we could look at," he said. "I'd like to get in touch with Peter as I was delighted he got the job.

"But if my players keep playing like they did last weekend we won't need to make too many changes."

It's also unclear whether any deal between Caley and City would see the Canaries have the option to loan or buy some of the Scottish side's top players like Graham Bayne, who scored the winner last Saturday, and defender Grant Munro.

Christie compared Munro to Scotland star Andy Webster who recently secured a big money deal to play for Wigan Athletic after leaving Hearts.