Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock has confirmed that Town target David Norris will be in the Pilgrims side which takes on Portsmouth at Fratton Park in the FA Cup on Saturday. The Blues are continuing their pursuit of the midfielder despite having their second bid turned down earlier in the week.
Sturrock says he has no qualms about playing Norris, who has had a transfer request turned down, despite the uncertainty about his future: "David Norris will be in the squad for Saturday. He's a professional man and he's paid a wage by Plymouth Argyle.
"I know Chuck and he always performs to the best of ability. I don't expect anything different from him - and I know it won't be."
Norris is reported to have held a meeting with Plymouth chairman Paul Stapleton yesterday and is also understood to have missed training earlier this week. The 26-year-old is said to be "very disappointed” that his transfer request was turned down.
Town, who face the Pilgrims at Portman Road on Tuesday, have vowed to continue their pursuit of the former Boston and Bolton man, but Sturrock says he is confident Norris will still be in his squad on February 1st: "Unless something dramatically changes, I'm very confident he will still be a Plymouth Argyle player."
The Blues are still in talks with the Pilgrims after their second bid — believed to be £1.75 million rising to £2 million — was turned down earlier in the week, although chairman David Sheepshanks has said he is unwilling to increase Town's offer.
Leicester City manager Ian Holloway has made his interest known, but is still to make a bid for a player he knows well from his spell at Home Park.
Town are reported to be ready to offer the Foxes £1 million for Gareth McAuley, however, Leicester are said to head off the move by giving the Northern Irish central defender a bumper new contract.
Meanwhile, Birmingham City left-back Mat Sadler, a player reported to be interesting Town, has completed a £750,000 move to Watford.
Elsewhere, new Scotland manager George Burley is reported to have asked former Town team-mate and ex-England captain Terry Butcher to be his assistant, something not uncontroversial north of the border.