Preston North End have been linked with a loan move for Norwich City's former Sunderland striker Chris Brown.

But they reportedly face competition from League One outfit Hartlepool.

Preston are understood to have agreed a deal with City with talks expected to be held with PNE manager Alan Irvine today.

Brown has started just eight Championship games for Norwich this season - but hasn't featured in any of manager Glenn Roeder's starting line-ups.

Having joined City from Sunderland in a £325,000 deal last January, Brown struggled in front of goal and has been on target just once in the yellow and green, in a 2-1 defeat at Burnley in October - his last start.