Robert Earnshaw accepts that it has been strange to return to Cardiff with his former club top of the Championship and his new team Norwich City without a manager and struggling.

The Wales striker (right) was the darling of Ninian Park as he set scoring records but big-money moves have taken him first to West Bromwich Albion and now Norwich while Cardiff are banging on the Premiership door.

Earnshaw, aged 25, is hoping to inspire Wales in their Euro 2008 qualifiers at the Millennium Stadium, on Saturday against Slovakia and next Wednesday against Cyprus.

He said: "Cardiff are doing very well, I'm delighted for them. But it's strange to see them where they are. They have sold me, Danny Gabbidon and James Collins and turned things to their advantage."

Earnshaw is likely to be paired with Craig Bellamy, a former Norwich player himself, in the qualifiers.

Norwich dismissed manager Nigel Worthington following Sunday's 4-1 home defeat by Burnley but Earnshaw said: "We are not giving up on the season, we can get back into contention (for promotion). The board have acted to give someone new the rest of the season, we have been going only a few weeks.

"There's still plenty of time to do something about it this season, as long as Cardiff don't run away with it!

But, seriously, my old club are doing really well and I couldn't be happier for them.

" I've still got mates there. Joe Ledley and Paul Parry, who are with me in the Wales squad, have been doing particularly well. But I still believe Norwich can catch them.

"I know Nigel (Worthington) still wants us to do well, he's like that. He told us this week to go out and do it for ourselves, nobody else. There was pressure but he took that off us.

"Good luck to him in whatever he does, us getting promotion would be a nice present for us to give him."

Earnshaw added: "It's a bit crazy at the club right now but we must deal with it. Nigel is a good manager and a good guy as well but that is what happens sometimes in football.

"The worst thing is that he is a good person, that is what makes it harder. I don't know who will come in but people say Mark Bowen has a chance, I don't know about that.

"But I have had plenty of experience playing under him (Bowen) with Wales when he was Mark Hughes' coach (with Wales). He's someone I get on with but we will have to wait and see, it could be anyone, but from a players' point of view you want something done quickly.

"We need to settle down, get a new manager in and work at getting back to our early-season form. For me it has gone well, though. I am scoring goals regularly."

Earnshaw will earn his 30th cap against Slovakia and hopes to build on the 11 goals he has scored for his country.

He said: "I hope I can score a few for Wales over these next two games and maybe even get a partnership with Craig Bellamy going well. We are both quick and it could be a decent pairing.

"But I don't worry about Wales.

"We have good players, we make lots of chances and I always feel confident here.

"We are good enough to do well."

Earnshaw stressed that Wales "cannot afford to drop a point from these two games".

He added: "Slovakia will be very difficult, but it is about time we scored a few after only managing one in our last three games."