Norwich want Ashdown

[Huckerbys right foot]

Reading goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown has emerged as a possible candidate to provide the necessary back-up for Robert Green next season.

The 23-year-old keeper will be out of contract at the Madejski Stadium during the summer and sources in the Home Counties suggest Norwich and Portsmouth are both keeping a close eye on the situation.

Ashdown has been offered a two-year extension by the Royals, where he is currently understudy to American international Marcus Hahnemann – but the opportunity of being a No. 2 keeper at a Premiership club might be too tempting for him to resist.

The Reading-born keeper has made just 16 appearances for his home town club since joining them from school six years ago – but 10 of those came at the tail end of last season when Hahnemann was injured.

Ashdown was swiftly recalled from a loan spell at Rushden and Diamonds and turned in a string of impressive performances as the Royals narrowly missed out on a place in the Division One play-offs. He was in goal when Norwich travelled down to Berkshire on Easter Monday and made several excellent saves before being beaten by a late screamer from Phil Mulryne which was inadvertently set-up by referee Neale Barry.

A key factor in Ashdown staying at Reading will be whether he is given an indication that he will start the 2004/05 campaign as the club's No. 1 – but manager Steve Coppell is unlikely to give either of his keepers that assurance.

City are looking for a new keeper following the exit of veteran Paul Crichton at the end of last season while Pompey want some youthful back-up for 35-year-old Shaka Hislop.



I THINK HE WOULD BE A PERFECT 2ND CHOICE KEEPER HE PLAYED WELL VS US AND HES YOUNG!

[Adalon]

aint you just signed a keeper?

[Huckerbys right foot]

lol yeh i think the links have hit eachother !