Town boss Roy Keane has refused to comment on speculation that the Blues are amongst a number of clubs eyeing Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper. Fellow Championship sides QPR and Derby and League One Leeds have also been linked, while Premier League clubs Wolves and Hull are reported to have watched the former Grays man in recent weeks.

Keane says that if he is interested in a player, he talks to the club involved before making any comment to the media: “I’m aware of the situation in the same way as I’m aware of any striker who is doing well, but if we were to do anything with any club or any player, the first thing I would do is pick up the phone to their manager or get our chief executive to ring their people.”

Meanwhile, Derby boss Nigel Clough has confirmed that he would be interested in the Iron frontman: "He is a player who has done well against us.

"It might be that we get priced out of it, I don't know, but if he is one we identify as a definite target then we would hope to be in there bidding.

"If Premiership clubs come in, there is no competition really, but if it is clubs from the Championship I would hope that if we decide to go for him we would be in with a chance."

The Blues boss says he will again be without David Healy (knee) and Carlos Edwards (recovering from chicken pox) when Town travel to Newcastle on Saturday. Damien Delaney is out for the season with the ankle ligament injury he sustained at Nottingham Forest.

Photo: Action Images

itfc_price added 12:47 - Apr 23 Sign him, we need a decent striker like him, and hes shown this season he can hack it in the CC scoring 17 so far, and what with our top scorer scoring a lousy 7/8. The only Scunny are down where they are is because they dont have the team to support Hooper. I really hope we sign him!
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