Chris Hughton has denied there is a relegation clause that would allow Ricky van Wolfswinkel to wriggle out of joining Norwich City in the summer. The Carrow Road club have agreed an £8.5m four-year deal with Sporting Lisbon for the 24-year-old Dutch striker but the player's agent, Louis Laros, was reported earlier this week as saying the move was dependent on Norwich staying in the Premier League.

With five games remaining, Hughton's side lie in 14th position on 35 points, just four points above 18th-placed Wigan who have a game in hand.

Laros was reported as claiming: "There is a special clause in the deal accepted by all parties that stipulates if Norwich leave the Premier League then the future of Ricky van Wolfswinkel will be open again."

Hughton, however, slammed the door shut on that possibility as he prepared for Saturday's vital home match against bottom club Reading. He said: "I have heard those reports but the facts are that he has signed for Norwich City and I expect to see him on the first of July. Any talk of a relegation clause in the contract is not fact. That is where we are and we look forward to seeing him next season."

Hughton was less forthcoming on the future of the striker Kei Kamara whose loan spell with Norwich is due to finish two games before the end of season.There is a chance, however, they might try to keep the Sierra Leone striker who is on loan from the Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City.

"We are conscious that a decision has to be made on him," Hughton said: "He has made a good impact. We still have a bit of time. It's not for a few weeks that we need to make that decision and we are putting our heads together to see what we want to do."

The Norwich manager, however, insisted his focus was the match against Reading, following last weekend's unfortunate defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium when Norwich conceded three goals, including a harsh penalty, in the last five minutes in a 3-1 defeat.

"We are coping very well. We know we have to get points," Hughton said. "We are on the back of a very good performance at the Emirates last week and there is confidence in the team. There's no getting away from the fact that we have five very big games, starting at home against Reading on Saturday. They are going to be fighting, they are a proud football club and a good team. They'll be giving everything to get a result.

"We have lost three matches at home all season. These are the positives you have to grab hold of. There is a good spirit in the squad and we have nigh-on a fully fit squad. You have to look forward to these challenges. It's a wonderful division to be in. We felt aggrieved last Saturday but that is in the past. We have left that frustration behind."

The goalkeeper John Ruddy is back in training and has played two development matches but is unlikely to be rushed back against Reading. Meanwhile, the midfielder Anthony Pilkington is back in contention following his hamstring injury and Bradley Johnson has recovered from a knock suffered against Arsenal.

Hughton insists there are no nerves in the dressing room and prefers to stress the positives of a long season as Norwich battle for their Premier League survival.

"We still have six very good clubs below us at this moment and it is our intention to stay where we are," he said. "We have five games, three of them at home. It is in our hands. It could be worse, we could be in 17th or 18th place. Apart from the early part of season we have not been in the bottom three. That indicates that overall it has been a decent season. We just need to make sure we finish it well."