CHRIS LAKEY Canaries marksman Robert Earnshaw is going nowhere when the January transfer window opens. City boss Peter Grant gave an unequivocal response when asked whether or not he would be able to refuse a big-money offer for his 10-goal hit man.

CHRIS LAKEY

Canaries marksman Robert Earnshaw is going nowhere when the January transfer window opens.

City boss Peter Grant gave an unequivocal response when asked whether or not he would be able to refuse a big-money offer for his 10-goal hit man.

“Yes, I can,” he said. “I would definitely turn it down.”

Earnshaw's goal-scoring feats since joining Norwich in the last January transfer window - 18 goals in 28 Championship starts - have drawn some envious glances and should City not be up there challenging for promotion in two months time, the pressure could mount.

But while Grant - who was part of the West Ham backroom team which lured Dean Ashton from Carrow Road last year for £7.25m, paving the way for Earnshaw's move to Norfolk - says he won't be swayed by the interest, he admits he would welcome it.

“I would be delighted if the stands were full of the top managers because that means we have a good side, and I am hoping people are phoning me because it means I have good players,” said Grant. “It's the day the phone stops that you start to worry.

“Hopefully we will do well enough so that I can hold on to players, but if players don't want to be here I have no problem with that. They can move on and I will bring in somebody else who wants to be here.”

Earnshaw is second in the Championship scoring charts behind Cardiff's Michael Chopra - but Grant believes he has the best hit man in the league.

“I think at this moment in time there is no doubt about that,” he said. “He has scored at every level he has played and he has that wonderful knack of scoring goals. He has that knack of defenders being aware of him and that's sometimes worth a goal in itself, because people are always worried where he is as long as he's on the pitch and that can sometimes help our players.

“That's why I say to our players take care, we have match winners in our side and he is definitely one of them.”

Earnshaw makes his first return to West Brom today where he struggled under then boss Bryan Robson to the extent that he pleaded for a move. Norwich have benefited, but Grant says Earnshaw has nothing to prove.

“His goals wherever he has been have proved he is a good player, a good striker, he doesn't need to prove anything to anybody,” Grant said.

“The only people he will be wanting to please on Saturday are the Norwich City supporters, no one else”