Earnie: I knew my season was finished

Norwich hot shot Robert Earnshaw has relived the horror moment that looks set to wreck his season. The Welsh predator spoke for the first time about the freak groin injury suffered in training ahead of Norwich's Championship game against Plymouth 12 days ago.

Norwich hot shot Robert Earnshaw yesterday relived the horror moment that looks set to wreck his season.

The Welsh predator spoke for the first time about the freak groin injury suffered in training ahead of Norwich's Championship game against Plymouth 12 days ago.

Scans showed Earnshaw's ligament had detached from the bone ruling the 17-goal hitman out until April at the very earliest.

The 24-year-old knew instantly he could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after the Colney training ground incident.

“It happened just like that,” he said. “There was no warning or anything - it just happened. I was doing a bit of shooting and that's just how it was. I knew straight away how bad it was when I felt the pain - I knew straight away. But as I say that's just how it goes. I have to look forward to getting back now.”

Earnshaw admits he is a reluctant patient after successfully undergoing surgery to repair the damage.

“I'm at home now, just resting,” he said. "I've got to rest for a couple of weeks. I'll then go and see the surgeon again to see how it's going. After that it'll be a case of starting to pick it up.

“It's just annoying - really annoying. It was a freak accident really. It just happened to be me it happened to. I'm going to be out for quite a while now and I've just got to work to get back stronger. I want to get it right and get back playing.”

Earnshaw was bang on course to emulate cult heroes Iwan Roberts and Chris Sutton - Norwich's only frontmen to breach the 20-goal barrier over the last decade.

“That's the thing that kills you,” he said. “When you are doing well you have a set back and get an injury and you can't carry on and keep playing. It's annoying but you just have to look to the positives and get back. I've done enough resting at home - I just want to get back now.”

Canaries' boss Peter Grant insisted the club's prized asset will only be allowed to return when he is fighting fit.

“I think people recover in different ways, but I am not going to set him back with forcing him into trying to play,” said Grant. “A player's livelihood is more important for me as an individual than us as a group. We have to make sure the players are 100pc and not set them back because if I push him and try and get him back early the injury reoccurs and it goes right through summer time and into next season.

“I am not going to jeopardise it - once he is 100pc fit he will be back in contention. That could be next season, we don't know. They are very happy with the way the operation went and that is a start.”