Robert Earnshaw today made it clear to his Norwich City team-mates that they have to earn the right to play - they must first do the dirty stuff and then use their football skills to carve up teams and create the chances.

Robert Earnshaw today made it clear to his Norwich City team-mates that they have to earn the right to play - they must first do the dirty stuff and then use their football skills to carve up teams and create the chances.

The Canaries are looking to secure their fourth straight home win against Sheffield United and also do the double over their Yorkshire rivals at Carrow Road tomorrow (3pm), with Earnshaw in line for a recall having been left out for tactical reasons against Leeds United the week before.

The 24-year-old Wales international is most likely to play alongside Leon McKenzie, who ploughed a lone furrow against Leeds, and Earnshaw is keen for the partnership to flourish.

“United will be up for it and really direct, so it is going to be tough,” said Earnshaw, who returned to Ninian Park earlier in the week for a benefit match held for ex-Cardiff player Andy Legg - who has been diagnosed with cancer - where he started the match alongside City colleague Peter Thorne.

“I think that we are good enough and if we keep the ball and pass the ball and play we'll be fine,” he added.

“From what I've seen, if we do play and play and play we are brilliant because we have go the players that can do that.

“Sometimes you can't do it and sometimes you have to play the ball long because the teams don't let you play, but it's hard.

“The first half last week was completely different to the second half. It's just how it is, you have to try to work through it and get hold of the ball and just keep playing and as long as we do that then I think that we'll be OK.”

Life in the Coca-Cola Championship is far more crash, bang, wallop football compared to the more subtle nature of the Premiership and according to Earnshaw, City boss Nigel Worthington has been drumming into the players the need to hit teams hard.

Earnshaw is also adamant that he made the right move in coming to Norwich from Premiership side West Bromwich Albion and is confident that the squad has enough talent to reach the top flight, if not this season, certainly next time around.

“The one thing that got me here is that this club can go up,” revealed Earnshaw. “Obviously they were up last season and looking at some of the players here we know that we have got the quality to go up again.

“If it happens this year it would be a massive bonus but if we don't then next year we will definitely be one of the favourites. I'm looking forward to the end of this season though and hopefully we can do something and finish on a high and take it on next season.

“We have got to keep winning and keep winning and winning and that's all that we can do,” he added.

“The last couple of weeks the manager has drilled it into us that we have got to start quick and start very sharp and take it on in the game.”

Worthington is expected to reshuffle his pack ahead of tomorrow's clash, with Earnshaw coming back in up front in a 4-4-2 formation.