.::warning::.

[Huckerbys right foot]

Dean Ashton's long-time mentor Dario Gradi had a word of warning for City's Championship rivals: “Deano's getting better and better!”

The Crewe Alexandra boss had a grandstand view of his former Gresty Road charge in Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with the Canaries at Carrow Road.

Given that Gradi probably knows more about Norwich's England Under-21 hitman than anyone else having carefully nurtured the talented teenager through Crewe's famous footballing Academy for the better part of ten years, his opinions are worth noting - particularly on the eve of Ashton's fascinating, head-to-head battle with the Championship's other star strike turn, Crystal Palace's Andrew Johnson.

To add even more spice to this weekend's proceedings, Palace made a late bid to scupper City's £3 million pursuit of Ashton last January only for Ashton and Gradi to refuse to even talk to Eagles' chairman Simon Jordan.

“Dean looks fine,” said Gradi, quizzed as to how the 21-year-old was progressing under Nigel Worthington's care.

“Whether he was extra motivated because he was playing us I don't know. I thought he worked very hard and was a threat,” added Gradi, about to give every Canary fan a little bit of an extra spring in their step ahead of this weekend's reunion with Iain Dowie's Palace. Seven months in Norfolk have worked one or two new wonders, it seems.

“I think he's improved and looks to have improved his all-round game,” said Gradi. “I would think he was the most dangerous forward on the pitch.”

All that was missing was the one, final finish which could so easily have seen the Canaries rack up their opening win of the season and confirm their status as the bookies' favourites to lift the Championship title next May.

Opportunity knocked loud and clear in the 13th minute when his first touch left his Gresty Road pal Richard Walker for dead only for Ashton to blaze his final shot way over Ben Williams' bar.

“Dean had a great chance in the first half and as soon as he got there I thought: 'This is a goal!'” said Gradi, a feeling shared with 25,000 other spectators at Carrow Road. “It was very unlike him to put it over the bar.”

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Good to hear from Dario that he sees a improvement ..Deano will get his scoring boots back on next game hopefully and rub it into them palace *******s

JOHNNO WHO?

[Adalon]

Deano did a Dele nah nah nah na

[Huckerbys right foot]

and as if a Crewe fan would say no to Dean Ashton being offered to them for £0