Bradford City manager Paul Jewell has angrily denied weekend speculation that Robbie Blake is a transfer target of north east giants Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

The 22-year-old City striker has been in superb form in recent weeks and is a major reason why the Bantams are pushing hard for automatic promotion.

Last week, City chairman Geoffrey Richmond strongly denied a claim by former manager Chris Kamara in his weekly Sun column that an unnamed Premiership club had made a £2 million bid.

Kamara apologised on his Radio Leeds show last Saturday after hearing how City had vehemently denied Blake was moving away from Valley Parade.

However the People yesterday claimed that Boro boss Bryan Robson had already made a £2 million bid for the striker and that Peter Reid had made inquiries about a possible summer move.

The City boss said: "I am fed up having to say this - but he is not for sale. I don't know where these reports come from, but we have heard nothing.

"People seem to assume that because I signed Dean Windass, then Blake is going to leave. That is not the case. Blake has another three years left on his deal and is happy.

"A lot of people have questioned why I have got five strikers, but they fail to realise how important injuries can be. What if Lee Mills is ruled out for the season?

"Middlesbrough showed the way last season when they signed Alun Armstrong, Marco Branca and Hamilton Ricard in the second half of the season. They didn't all play in every game, but they all chipped in with goals which helped Middlesbrough finish second."

The City boss also denied claims in the same article that he was about to sign Sheffield Wednesday's Lee Briscoe, Liverpool keeper Tony Warner and former City skipper Eddie Youds. Jewell said: "I haven't even heard of the goalkeeper I'm about to sign."

Meanwhile, Peter Beagrie and Ashley Westwood are both out of tomorrow's top of the table clash between Bradford City and Sunderland.

The pair have been struggling with calf and thigh injuries recently and both will not be considered for selection in a game which pits third against first in what should be a fine clash.

Jewell said: "We are hoping Beagrie might be available again on Saturday when we play Norwich and Ashley is also not too far away."

Stephen Wright has shrugged off his thigh injury and comes back into the squad.

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