DAVID CUFFLEY City striker Robert Earnshaw is losing no sleep over talk of a big money return to the Premiership in January, insisting: “I never think about it.”

DAVID CUFFLEY

City striker Robert Earnshaw is losing no sleep over talk of a big money return to the Premiership in January, insisting: “I never think about it.”

Latest reports suggest high-flying Portsmouth are lining up a £4m bid for Earnshaw, the Coca-Cola Championship's top scorer, when the transfer window reopens next week.

But after the Canaries disappointed a big Boxing Day crowd with a dismal 0-0 draw against bottom club Southend at Carrow Road yesterday, the 25-year-old Wales international said he was not distracted by transfer stories.

“It's nice, it's good. You like the attention but most of it is probably just paper talk. I never think about it because I've always had it since I've been young," said Earnshaw, who struck twice in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Wolves to take his tally to 16 goals for the season.

“You never know what could happen but I've said always I love playing football here and it gives me great joy in going out there every week, so that's what I'm going to keep doing, the longer the better. I'm not looking otherwise until things happen, but I'll be hopefully here at the end of the season."

He said the attention was not unwelcome.

“It means that I'm doing well, so when clubs do come in for you it's a good sign, but I'm happy here," said Earnshaw.

“I'm looking forward to the next game and I want to go on until the end of the season and keep playing the same way.

"The manager has said that he hopes people come in as well because that means you're playing well, so it's the same feeling.

“I think he wants to freshen things up, bring good players in to help us so when we have injuries or need something different, people are there."

Earnshaw admitted the dressing room mood wassombre after the fifth game without a win.

"We're a bit low after that. I thought we should have won the game, but that's how it goes. We'll be right by Friday and on Saturday we have to go again against Queen's Park Rangers. We've got to be brave and confident and just go out and play."