Exclusive: Robert Earnshaw talks Cardiff City, West Brom, Norwich City, Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday | OneFootball

Football League World spoke exclusively with former Cardiff City, Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion star Robert Earnshaw on a range of EFL topics

Football League World spoke exclusively to former Cardiff City, Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion striker Robert Earnshaw about a range of topics throughout the English Football League in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.

Earnshaw, of course, made his name at Cardiff before going on to enjoy prolific stints with West Brom and Norwich thereafter, and is fondly remembered by fanbases of all three clubs to this day.

A 59-cap ex-Wales international, Earnshaw famously remains the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the Premier League and all three divisions of the EFL alongside the EFL Cup, the FA Cup and for his nation, too.

There is plenty of excitement and expectation in equal measure surrounding League One Cardiff, where Earnshaw rose to prominence after rising through the Bluebirds' youth ranks and went on to score 86 goals from just shy of 200 appearances.

West Brom, who poached Earnshaw from South Wales in 2004, are bidding for promotion to the Premier League under new head coach Ryan Mason, whereas Norwich have endured a less-than-ideal start to the new season with ex-Bristol City boss Liam Manning now at the helm ahead of this weekend's crunch East Anglian Derby showdown away to bitter rivals Ipswich Town.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, via BetVictor Casino, Earnshaw discussed topical matters with a number of his former clubs along with key talking points in the wider EFL sphere.

Cardiff City have enjoyed a strong start to life in League One, with the Bluebirds' early-season success underpinned by young homegrown talents such as Cian Ashford, Ronan Kpakio, Dylan Lawlor and Joel and Rubin Colwill. How excited are you by this crop of players?

"Very excited. I think the biggest thing, for me, was the disappointment of last season.

"We've been watching Cardiff for a few years, so when you look at how the squad has been doing, it's been a few years of frustration — not just last season. That topped it all off with relegation, a place we didn't think would be happening with Cardiff City and when you looked at it, you thought 'now what's going to happen?'

"So many players left — Aaron Ramsey left, of course, Joe Ralls — you thought 'what's going to happen with the players and the manager?'

"I think Brian Barry-Murphy coming in came from nowhere a little bit. Nobody knew too much about him, I knew a bit of him because he was at the Manchester City academy, so I saw him there. But I just thought 'what's he going to do?'

"You knew he was going to favour the youngsters but, at the same time, you thought 'okay, let's see' because we're not going to expect too much if he favours the youngsters as a lot of them are playing their first games for him and the club.

"But I've been very, very impressed. I've really enjoyed how they've approached it and have come into the team, the enthusiasm, the energy within the young players. I've been in the experienced player role and the youngster role at different clubs, and the young players bring an energy, enthusiasm and willingness to drive the team forward, and that's what they've brought.

"When I look at Rubin Colwill especially, we've known about him for years but he's a good player and you just want him to shine. Thankfully, I think he's been doing that and you look at his brother (Joel), who's been doing well. (Ronan) Kpakio, he looks like he's going to be a bright talent as well, but Dylan Lawlor is the one that has really come forward and you think we could be seeing someone from nowhere.

"With every performance and game, he just becomes better and better, and I like him a lot. Him making his debut (for Wales) as well, so another big experience with the Wales team, you just see him growing and growing."

"I really like the young players and I really like what Cardiff City are bringing to the season."

It's been a decent start for Cardiff, but we're beginning to see a couple of bumps with recent defeats. Are you confident that Cardiff will go up at the first attempt this season?

"At the beginning of the season, I was the same. At the start of the season, great — unbeaten, doing well, lots of goals, lots of clean sheets.

"We had the same experience in 2002, the last time we went up (from League One) where there were a few rocks along the way, a few stumbles. It was not all plain-sailing.

"But it's about staying disciplined and continuing, and sometimes young players have the tendency to get knocked off completely confidence-wise when they get a couple of defeats and it's been a bad week. But you've got to put that aside.

"I think they'll be fine. I see Cardiff as being minimum play-offs, but actually as one of the favourites to be honest. Especially now, I think they've made themselves one of the favourites.

"That's the really good thing, I don't think a lot of people would've wondered whether Cardiff would really go up as they've been struggling for a couple of years now, but I see them now playing good football, scoring goals, doing well at the back, they've got a solid team.

"I see them as one of the favourites."

Yousef Salech was tipped for a prolific League One campaign after impressing in the Championship, but has had a mixed start so far despite scoring three goals. Do you back Salech to kick on and start firing, or are you skeptical about whether the striker fits into Brian Barry-Murphy's system?

"I actually like him a lot. He obviously came in last season, so he got a bit of a taste of the Championship.

"I think he's been up and down a little bit, but he's scored three goals. It's not bad, you can build off that.

"A lot of people forget that my record-breaking season, I didn't start for the first six or seven games. So sometimes, you just need to get into the groove, get into the season and then continue. I'm not saying he's going to break the record but I like what I see of him and, as a striker, I look at him and I like his instinct.

"He's very level-headed on the pitch and doesn't get too down, I don't see his head drop when he should've been somewhere or misses a chance. Obviously his enthusiasm is there when he scores goals but I like his movement in the box, he's very clever in where he positions himself so I like that.

"I think he's a very good finisher. Sometimes you can be a little bit rough and have a period where you feel like you haven't hit your real standard yet. I feel that's the way he is.

"He's one of those where he could score one goal and then go three, four, five games in a row and score goals. I do like his qualities and I think we have to feed him the ball.

"The biggest thing when I played was making sure I got chances, at least three or four during the game, because I need my wide players to create something, I need my number tens to make those through passes, and then I also need myself — and this is talking to Salech as well — you need him to create two or three of his own when the other players are struggling in the creativity department.

"I think he'll be okay, he's scored a few goals already and I see him continuing that. I think he can fit in, I do like him."

It's been a disappointing start to the season for Norwich City, who are yet to kick on under Liam Manning. But their record against Ipswich Town is impressive ahead of this weekend's East Anglian Derby, they haven't lost to them since 2009 — does that encourage you to back them?

"Yeah, big game! Funnily enough, I made my debut in this fixture, it was the other way round as we were playing at home and it is rough, it's a big derby and both sets of fans do hate each other and can't wait to beat that team.

"It's difficult right now. Liam Manning is a good manager, he did well at Bristol City, but it feels like he hasn't fitted quite right for some reason or another. I think it's their worst-ever start to a season, especially at home.

"I think they've had five defeats in a row at home, and four in the league. You had a period just over a year ago where Norwich didn't lose at home for over a year, so you just think that there's something not quite right there.

"I loved playing at Norwich. Our home fans were always there and supported us, they were a very good crowd and the club is great. But I just feel that things are not quite right at Norwich, whether it's Manning's direction, the tactics, I guess the drive of the players.

"But things are just not quite right. I know they've lost quite a lot of players over the last year especially, but that's still not an excuse. It's a great football club, they're just really struggling.

"With Ipswich, they're not in wonderful form because they were expected to be pretty much top of the league right now and they're not, I do see Norwich — for some reason — playing a really good game from nowhere. Sometimes as a player, especially this week because they lost again to West Brom, I feel like there will be some discussions building up to the derby.

"Players will have some meetings hopefully, I think the manager will show some videos and clear details of 'listen, this can't go on'. There was a lot of frustration at another defeat and you don't want to take that, especially knowing that the fans' number one thing will be beating Ipswich, and this is a big couple of days for Norwich.

"I see a draw. But I just can't see Norwich winning right now. They're struggling to score goals, Josh Sargent is the only one and nobody else contributes. Sargent is the clear standout player, (Kenny) McLean is very good in midfield, but the team struggles to score goals.

"So that's where I see Norwich struggling. They might get one, they might get two, but I can't see them winning the game and Ipswich generally do score goals so, for me, probably a draw. I hope for Norwich, but I can't see them winning.

"This record of Ipswich not beating Norwich for quite a long time could be overdue and this might be the one, unfortunately."

West Bromwich Albion have started in decent form under Ryan Mason, do you think that the Baggies have what it takes to finish inside the top-six? Or do you fear that they may just fall short once again like last year?

"For West Brom, it's been an interesting summer. New manager, lots of players left right up until the end of the window and he's also brought in lots of new players, so it's been a renewed West Brom.

"They're fourth right now. I do fancy them, I think they've got a different energy and have players now who can score and create goals, more than just one or two. For about four or five years now, they've really struggled attacking-wise.

"But I see players now who can score goals and also Ryan Mason coming in with his experience from Tottenham, I think he's brought a higher standard and everybody in the building has to pay attention, work and deliver, otherwise they're not going to play.

"I think he's brought that whereas at the end of last season, they dropped off. West Brom were consistent enough and had a chance of getting into the play-offs in February and March, and it just completely dropped off. It was almost the feeling of there'd been a lot of players who had been there for a few years, the results were comfortable, and they were ticking over.

"Now it's very different, earn your shirt and if you deliver, you're going to play. There's a new energy in the team — Isaac Price has been the standout so far with his three goals, young player, number 10, brings a real energy in the team and is creative. (Aune) Heggebo is good, (Josh) Maja scored against Norwich for the first time in a while, he's a very good player.

"They beat Norwich and drew, but should've beaten Leicester, on Friday night. I do fancy them, I think they'll be there or thereabouts.

"I fancy them for the play-offs, I don't think they're good enough for the top-two."

Chris Davies is seemingly under pressure at Birmingham City, with owner Tom Wagner in attendance for Blues' 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday. Wagner has been vocal about Birmingham's promotion ambitions and supporters have been critical of Davies. Do you fear he could soon lose his job if results fail to improve after a slow start, or should the club stand by him?

"I just feel it's a little bit too early. I understand the American mentality a bit, and they give you a bit of extra time — and justifiably so.

"It's too early, they've only played eight games. They're eleventh, but they've got three wins there. You look at where they are, if they continue, they only need a little jump up and they might be in the play-offs, and that's the difference.

"So you kind of have to hang around a little bit, I'll be more interested in where Birmingham are in the middle of November. That would be the right measurement for Birmingham and Chris Davies.

"Obviously with the promotion, it's going to be a bit more difficult. Yes, they want to at least be in the play-offs, but they also understand that it's very hard as there are a lot of teams that have come down, a lot of teams that they've got to play up against and, after promotion, it's not straightforward, so you're going to find that first season a little bit more difficult, especially in the Championship.

"So I think it's a little bit early for pressure. I think it will be until the middle of November before you get to see genuine, real pressure because the team is losing and not doing well or showing signs of improving. That's when you should make the decisions, I think."

Owner Dejphon Chansiri has failed to pay Sheffield Wednesday players on time once again, now for the fifth time in seven months. Players are reportedly considering not training - Would you support this stance and do you feel that players could end up refusing to play if the situation continues?

"The big thing is that, as a football club, as owners, investors, chairmen, CEO's, everybody behind the scenes who pay not only the players but the whole club, when that is not being balanced off (that's a problem).

"The players are training every day, putting their bodies on the line, travelling, playing, they're ready for their job. The staff, the people behind the scenes as well who help run the club, they do so much, so I fully support the players.

"Never mind just the players, it's the staff as well that they've got to pay. To be honest, it's very, very poor, and it shouldn't get to that stage.

"I'll be fully behind the players if they're ready to not play and make a stance. I've been in the dressing room where you have these discussions and the club hasn't paid for a month or two here and there, but as players, they will battle until the end because they care about the people who are there in the canteen to make them food — have they been paid?

"The physios, the people behind the scenes, the bus driver, the people in the office making all the bookings to plan for every single game — players will generally look after them and think about if they've been paid and what's happening with those people first.

"They'll continue to play right to the end and only then, players will say that it's been so much now, we've got families to feed and bills to pay'. So I'm fully behind players in the end if they decide to make a stance, not play and have those discussions with the football club because something has to be done.

"It's a great football club, Sheffield Wednesday, so with the history — I nearly signed there when I was 16 and went on trial there — I understood it was a very good club and you just want to see a historical club like that being run the right way with everybody getting paid on time and in the same direction.