CHRIS LAKEY Canaries hit man Robert Earnshaw yesterday delivered the words all City fans want to hear - he wants to stay at Carrow Road. The Premiership vultures are bound to be circling next month when the transfer window reopens and Earnshaw, with 13 goals in 20 league matches this season, is an obvious target.

CHRIS LAKEY

Canaries hit man Robert Earnshaw yesterday delivered the words all City fans want to hear - he wants to stay at Carrow Road.

The Premiership vultures are bound to be circling next month when the transfer window reopens and Earnshaw, with 13 goals in 20 league matches this season, is an obvious target.

But the Welshman yesterday made it clear where his priorities lie.

“For me, I want to stay at this club,” said the Championship's joint leading scorer.

“I am enjoying football here, it is a good place for me. Everything else is in the club's hands, the manager's hands. I want to fight to get and play for this club in the Premier League. I have said that from the beginning. I want to be playing in the Premier League, but I want this club to be playing in the Premier League and I want to be scoring goals here. That is the aim.”

Earnshaw, a record £3.5m singing from West Brom last January, insists the inevitable transfer speculation won't knock him off his stride.

“I get this all the time,” he said “I don't even think about it until someone asks me the question.

“We had a chat with the manager the other day and he said he hopes people come knocking on his door, it means I am doing well. That's how I put it as well. If people are interested or knocking on the manager's door it's good for me because I am doing well on the pitch and that's all I want to do - play well and keep scoring goals. That's all I am going to concentrate on.”

The chances of City keeping Earnshaw increase the further they are up the Championship table, and the 25-year-old believes that an automatic promotion spot is not out of reach.

“It is not impossible, there are still enough points to play for,” he said. “I don't think it's impossible. We have to aim for the top two, and then if we get in the play-offs maybe see it as a great achievement because of how tough the league is and how up and down the first half of the season has been. Firstly, we have to aim for top two - this club needs that. We are good enough and big enough as a club to be able to aim high.”

City have yet to lose at home under Grant's reign, but Earnshaw knows that a good run is vital if they are to be in among the realistic contenders at the turn of the year.

“I think have been doing well for the last month or so, but we have to keep that going,” he said. “I know we have drawn a couple of games here, but you will take that in this league. If you win two or three then lose one or draw one you are still fighting near the top.

“The next month, month and a half will be vital for us. We need to really kick on and get wins, that's the main thing.

“Cardiff have lost two or three in the last month and because people have won two or three they are above them.

“We need two or three wins in a row, maybe draw one away - we would take that. Obviously you try and win every game, but if not that's the aim - put a run together and I think we are good enough to reach the top.”

The quest continues at home to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow, with Earnshaw unfazed by the prospect of a change in formation, with the likelihood that he will be partnered by Peter Thorne in a traditional 4-4-2, rather than having the responsibility of a lone striker.

“I enjoy all formations,” he said. “In my career I have played every one, I have played wide on the right, as a three I've played wide left, I have played up front on my own this year and I've played in a two - I honestly don't mind.”