CHRIS LAKEY Ex-Canaries hitman Robert Earnshaw says he is not worried about the record-breaking £3.5m price tag that has taken him back to the Premiership with Derby County.

CHRIS LAKEY

Ex-Canaries hitman Robert Earnshaw says he is not worried about the record-breaking £3.5m price tag that has taken him back to the Premiership with Derby County.

The 26-year-old made a controversial move to the Midlands last week, after the Premiership new boys invoked a buy-out clause in his contract with City.

Earnshaw says the lure of a return to the top flight was too big to resist - and that derby's record fee means nothing to him.

“I'm used to taking things on my shoulders and carrying on playing and enjoying my football,” he told the Derby club web site.

“That's what I'll be doing here and hopefully I can be a big part of this team.

“I've got nothing to prove, I just want to play football, simple as that. I just want to be on the pitch. So many people ask me about West Brom, what it was like there, and I always say that it was good.

“I enjoyed the training, and I've got some great memories from playing at places like Highbury and Old Trafford, when we got draws at both grounds in the same season.

“I scored goals at West Brom and had a good time there when I did play so there's nothing for me to prove, all I want to do is play football. All I want to be is enjoying myself out on the pitch and I'm looking forward to doing that here.”

Earnshaw spent just 18 months at Carrow Road and, with another season of Championship football ahead of him, jumped at the opportunity that came his way last week.

“It was a must really, I couldn't turn it down,” he said.

“The decision was whether I spent another year in the Championship or moved to the Premier League where hopefully I can get better and better. There really was no choice - I couldn't resist it.”

Earnshaw said he was looking forward to working with Rams boss Billy Davies.

“What he's said to me is that he wanted me to come, and with the amount of money the club has paid it was clear they wanted me playing here,” he said.

“I want to play football and if I can do that in the Premier League, with a manager who wants me, that is perfect.

“I'm looking forward to working with Billy, playing against the best teams and doing well for this club.”

Davies reckons Earnshaw will prove an exciting addition.

“When you look at some of the goals he's scored in his career, the pace he has got, the way he gets at teams, he is an exciting player,” Davies said.

“People score goals and that's what fans come to watch so I'm sure he will be appreciated by the supporters here. I'm also sure that he will show them just how good a goalscorer he can be.”

Davies said Earnshaw - who would have been valued around the £5m mark - was worth every penny of the £3.5m that Derby were able to get him for.

“Yes, especially when you look at the age of the lad, his goalscoring record and what he brings to this club,” he said.

“I can see him stretching teams, I can see him getting on the end of things in the box, and if we can create chances for him he will certainly score the goals.”