CHRIS LAKEY Robert Earnshaw has a forward plan for Norwich City's march up the table - starting with a trip to the club where he became surplus to requirements.

CHRIS LAKEY

Robert Earnshaw has a forward plan for Norwich City's march up the table - starting with a trip to the club where he became surplus to requirements.

Earnshaw goes back to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday for the first time since his £3.7m transfer to Norwich in January, knowing that there could hardly be a more difficult place to begin a climb up the table.

The Baggies are unbeaten at home this season, but if City want to close the current four-point gap between them and a play-off place they need to get something from their trip to the Black Country.

And that's where Earnshaw's plan starts.

“Next week is a massive game for us,” said Earnshaw, who hit his 10th of the season on Saturday to earn the points against Sunderland.

“We need to beat West Brom - it's going to be tough because they are very good down there, they are very confident at home.

“But that's what we need to build on now, a win, win next week, get up to 10th place, ninth and then build again. If we win their next week you never know where we could be.”

Earnshaw would like nothing more than to be on the winning side against a club where he struggled against former manager Bryan Robson's reluctance to play him on a regular basis.

The Welshman has blossomed since his move to Norfolk, scoring 18 goals in 28 Championship starts, although his weekend strike was his first after four blanks under new boss Peter Grant.

It was a mini-drought largely due to a combination of missed opportunities and lack of service, but not one that dwelt on Earnshaw's mind.

“The only time I do think about it is when I want another one, but I never go into it,” he said. “You think you have to score every time but it won't always happen. I never think about it, I am waiting for the next chance and the next chance again.

“That is one thing I have been lucky with - if you have a chance and miss it doesn't matter because the next one you put it in. Against Sunderland it was the only chance I had - I didn't have too many against Colchester either. I would rather have had more chances but I will settle for the winning goal, that was nice.”