NEWCASTLE STARLET EYED

Manager Brian Laws has said that Wednesday have agreed a deal with a Premiership club.

Laws has also been linked with Blackburn's Francis Jeffers.

But rumours within the game are linking him with Carroll.

The Newcastle centre forward is 18, 6ft 3ins and generally regarded in the North East as a bright prospect.

It would be regarded as a coup if Wednesday land him.

Reports linking the Owls with Celtic striker Derek Riordan have been dismissed by sources in Scotland.

West Brom have noted the Chris Brunt situation and are believed to be pondering whether or not to make bid.

The Owls have said that the winger is not for sale and will see out the final year of his contract after rejecting a new one.

If Albion made a substantial offer then it would test Wednesday's resolve to keep him.

It is widely believed that the Owls would take no less than 3m for Brunt, with such a price tag acting as a deterrent to most admirers.

Carroll played for Newcastle in a testimonial at Gateshead last night for 34-year-old Gateshead striker Paul Thompson.

The teenager, who joined the Magpies from school, is competing for a place with half a dozen strikers at St James's Park.

He made his first senior appearance – and became his club's youngest-ever European debutant – in a 1-0 UEFA Cup win in Palermo last year.

Wednesday have helped to pave the way for the arrival of a new striker by releasing David Graham, who has been on trial at Gillingham. His Hillsborough contract has been cancelled by mutual consent.