For as Ipswich get bitten by the same sort of Shola Ameobi bug as Norwich, it is clear that both are beating a path to the same kind of doors.

Been-round-the-block, six-foot somethings in short. Indeed, not for the first time this summer so both clubs found themselves linked to the same player – Heidar Helguson at Bolton. A been-round-the-block, five-foot-ten something in fairness.

With the summer transfer window slamming shut again on Monday, it will be interesting to see which of the two clubs gets their man.

They won't be alone in gunning for a target man – Crystal Palace are another club that have been doing the Steffen Iversen rounds of late. Presumably getting the same 'resolute' answer from the obdurate Norwegians.

But what this all proves is just how much 'good, old-fashioned British centre-forwards' have gone out of fashion. Dean Ashton – hamstrings permitting – is the only one of genuine class these days. Certainly that's British born and bred.

Otherwise you hit the second tier... James Beattie was always supposed to be the next 'big' thing. Chris Brown, Rob Hulse, Steve Howard, Alan Lee... the list goes on but stops somewhere round the dozen mark.

And you wonder why that is. Why has the classic centre-forward 'production line' in this country ceased?

Ipswich don't do them; your Bents and Haynes' are of a completely different ilk – born and bred for pace, not power.

Norwich have half got there with Chrissy Martin; only for his teenage ways to intervene – hence being shipped off to the school of hard knocks that is Luton Town for a season. Jarvis (Ryan) had the frame, but never the physical hunger; Kris Renton might. He remains one for the future.

Even then, Musselburgh's finest might be strapping enough, but he's not tall; not in the 6ft 2in way that you'd be looking for.

The answer is, I don't know where they've gone... these six-foot something, hungry teenagers of my youth. Perhaps they simply don't breed them like that anymore?