Lee scored two goals in seven games on loan at Carrow

Bryan Gunn has admitted he is unlikely to be able to get Alan Lee back at Carrow Road following the striker's loan spell last season.

Lee proved a popular addition with fans in his short period with the Canaries.

But Gunn told BBC Radio Norfolk that Lee's re-emergence in the Crystal Palace team made a move doubtful.

"Alan's starting for Palace on a regular basis now, something he didn't do at the end of last season, which is why we got him on loan," he said.

He's in the Palace first-team, playing at Championship level, he'll be very happy about that. Bryan Gunn on Alan Lee

"The circumstances change in Football so quickly, we obviously enjoyed Alan's time with us at Carrow Road," he added.

Lee has been regularly linked with a switch to Norwich since his loan spell ended, but Gunn's signing of Grant Holt last Friday seemed to fill the target-man gap in his squad, as well as taking up much of his summer budget.

And Gunn admits that given Lee's new-found popularity with Palace boss Neil Warnock, he doesn't blame the 30-year-old for staying put.

"There's been a lot of talk and speculation throughout the summer that he would make his way here.

"But the fact that now he's in the Palace first-team, playing at Championship level, he'll be very happy about that," he said.

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