Paddy Davitt Norwich City fans' favourite Darren Eadie says the Canaries must hang onto sharpshooter Grant Holt at all costs in the January transfer window. Holt is rapidly achieving cult status amongst the City faithful after notching his 18th of the campaign in the midweek League One win at Southend.

Paddy Davitt

Norwich City fans' favourite Darren Eadie says the Canaries must hang onto sharpshooter Grant Holt at all costs in the January transfer window.

Holt is rapidly achieving cult status amongst the City faithful after notching his 18th of the campaign in the midweek League One win at Southend.

Canaries' boss Paul Lambert admitted last month every player has his price following Ronaldo's mega money move to Real Madrid - and Holt's prolific start to his Norwich career is sure to attract interest.

Holt is contracted to the club until June 2012 following his Shrewsbury summer switch and Eadie is urging the club's board to ward off any potential suitors.

"He looks like a world beater now," said Eadie. "He'd probably admit when he first arrived he was maybe lacking a bit of fitness but he looks a totally different player. I think the fact is, he might well attract interest and that is actually a positive thing because it shows how well he is doing. With the position Norwich are in I don't think they would let go of a player who can help them get back to the Championship, which is where they need to be at the very least.

"For me, Grant Holt would score goals at that level against better players so to lose someone like that, a leader and a big player in the team, would be a massive loss. I don't see that happening.

"Whether Norwich's financial situation is an issue or not I don't know - because it's a struggle for a lot of clubs - but that would be a short term fix. If he can get Norwich into the Championship and is still scoring then that is going to add a few more noughts to his price tag."

Eadie is confident the no nonsense Lambert would have the final say in any transfer business.

"You couldn't see him sticking around if he was dictated which players to bring in or move on," said Eadie. "He really reminds me of Martin O'Neill in a lot of respects, right down even to the dress sense on the touchline and the way he carries himself. You remember the time when Martin wanted to bring in Dean Windass and he was prevented from doing that and you couldn't see Paul Lambert reacting any differently. He is his own man and from the people I know who have spoken to him and met him he is a very impressive character.

"For him I'm sure coming to Norwich is probably a great stage for his career and that is what attracted him. I don't think with due respect to Colchester he probably had the resources to help him move his career on to that next level."

Eadie was on the scoresheet the last time Norwich beat this Saturday's league opponents Oldham at Carrow Road and the former City trainee is backing Lambert's men to maintain their upward curve.

"They have that belief now and when you are in a team winning and playing well it's the easiest game in the world," he said. "They will feel unbeatable at present. At the start of the season watching a few games if you had asked me then I would have said they might struggle to make the play-offs. Confidence is now flowing through them, you can see that, and you have to put that down to the manager.

"He has instilled it into them. They know they are a good side and it shows when you go out on the park. Norwich and Leeds are at top of the form table and Leeds look a little bit too far away for me right now but Norwich are still capable of automatic promotion. I don't think it is the best league in the world so you would expect the teams up there now to be fighting it out."