DAVID CUFFLEY Former City star Chris Sutton last night confirmed he would have liked to return to Carrow Road but admitted: “It's out of my hands.”The 33-year-old striker, who left the Canaries for Blackburn 12 years ago in a British record £5m deal, has moved back to Norfolk with his family, and is having a new house built.

DAVID CUFFLEY

Former City star Chris Sutton last night confirmed he would have liked to return to Carrow Road but admitted: “It's out of my hands.”

The 33-year-old striker, who left the Canaries for Blackburn 12 years ago in a British record £5m deal, has moved back to Norfolk with his family, and is having a new house built.

Sutton was released by relegated Birmingham City at the end of last season after joining them in January - and has yet to find a new club.

With City manager Nigel Worthington scouring the land for a big forward, ideally to play alongside Robert Earnshaw, Sutton would certainly be a popular choice among supporters after his first spell with the Canaries yielded 43 goals in just 127 senior appearances, many of those games at centre-half.

But Worthington categorically ruled out the idea earlier this week, saying that the player's age and injury problems were against him.

Sutton, at Manor Park, Horsford, last night as guest of honour for the Norfolk 20/20 Cup cricket final, admitted the idea of re-joining City appealed to him.

Though there have been no talks between the player and the Canaries, it has been reported that Sutton's representatives have tried to contact the club.

He said: “It would have been nice to come back, but it isn't to be.

“It's up to other people. It's out of my hands. I'm back in Norfolk - that's all I can say.”

But, clearly retaining his affection for his first club, he said: “Norwich City are a great football club and deserve to be in the Premiership and I hope they get back there.”

Asked where he would be playing football in the new season, Sutton added: “I don't know. I will see what happens over the next two weeks. I've got two or three options.”

One of those options is believed to be Birmingham, who are reported to be keen to take him back on a pay cut.

Sutton joined Birmingham from Celtic in January, but scored just one goal in 10 Premiership games as they failed to retain Premiership status. He was yesterday reported to be willing to consider returning in a pay-as-you-play deal.

“Chris might still come back to us because he feels that he wants to repay us,” co-owner David Sullivan told a national newspaper. “I would love him to play for us again and that is a real possibility.”

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce is keen to strengthen his strike options in the wake of Emile Heskey's move to Wigan Athletic.

Earlier this week, Worthington ruled out the move when he said: “Nothing will happen as far as Chris Sutton is concerned. To be fair, we've not spoken to the player or his agent.

“Chris has been here and done a very good job for the club and moved away and been a very, very good player over the years. He's a bit older now, he's had his injury problems, which would be a concern to myself, so that is something that won't happen.”