DAVID CUFFLEY City boss Peter Grant has rubbished suggestions that striker Robert Earnshaw may be left out of Saturday's FA Cup third round tie at Tamworth to protect his transfer value.

DAVID CUFFLEY

City boss Peter Grant has rubbished suggestions that striker Robert Earnshaw may be left out of Saturday's FA Cup third round tie at Tamworth to protect his transfer value.

Earnshaw, the top scorer in the Championship this season with 17 goals, has been linked with several Premiership clubs over the past 10 days, but Grant insisted there had been no offer from anyone for his top scorer.

And he ridiculed the idea that Earnshaw may be rested for the televised game against the Conference club.

He said: “That's the biggest load of rubbish ever.

“I have a value for Robert Earnshaw whether he plays or whether he doesn't play in the cup tie. It doesn't diminish his value.

“In any case, I don't think some clubs look at the FA Cup as the be-all and end-all.”

He said he would field his strongest available side against Tamworth, adding: “I want to win every game and I want to get through to the next round of the FA Cup.”

He said there was no question of resting players because “we aren't good enough to do that”.

Midfielder Dickson Etuhu is the main worry for Saturday, still having problems with a sore foot.

Grant said he felt he was very, very close to getting two or three players in but admitted: “It depends on other things.”

City have been linked with Wales Under-21 midfielder David Edwards from Shrewsbury and Grant admitted: “We have looked at him. With the Welsh connection we have here, David Williams knows he's a very good player. We've watched him but that's as far as it's gone.”

Grant confirmed he had spoken to Derby goalkeeper Lee Camp about a possible return to Norwich but he said: “I don't think I'll be looking to buy a goalkeeper in this window, probably to get one in on loan. I can't guarantee Lee first team football but he's very, very keen to come here.”