Robert Earnshaw's dream move has turned in to a nightmare

One of many shrewd signings made by Malky Mackay in the summer, Earnshaw announced the transfer on Twitter, stating; "I'm going home to Cardiff City." In confirming the move, Mackay claimed; "I've known Earnie for a long time having played against him, I also know the type of person he is and, of course, the affinity he has with this club. But, above all, I know that he is an absolute proven goalscorer at this level and higher. He's scored goals in the Championship, in the Premier League and internationally. He was someone always moving off the shoulder, trying to find that half a yard around the box and I found him a very difficult opponent."

A couple of weeks later, Mackay bought Kenny Miller and many, myself included (http://bluebirdsbanter.co.uk/2011/08/kenny-miller-and-robert-earnsh.html) wondered how such similar players would operate as a partnership. It soon became apparent that their partnership was non-existent.

With both occupying the same areas of the pitch, Miller started to drop deeper to see more of the ball, Earnshaw's shoot on sight policy also left Miller visably frustrated. Despite playing poorly, Miller scored the decisive goal in the opening day win at West Ham, Earnshaw had already been replaced by Rudy Gestede at that stage, with Gestede instrumental in the late winner.

Earnshaw's first goal came in the aforementioned win against Bristol City, where Miller again played the full 90 minutes and Earnie was once more replaced by Gestede half way through the second half. This again proved to be the case in the shock 3-1 home defeat against Brighton, despite Miller's increasingly erratic form. Earnshaw scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Burnley before again making way for Gestede. Both Miller and Earnshaw played the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw at Portsmouth and the 2-0 win against Doncaster, where Earnshaw recorded his third goal in six games.

Despite a respectable start to the season, Cardiff changed shape to mirror Blackpool's formation for their next fixture, with Earnshaw relegated to the bench and Cardiff lining up in a 4-5-1 formation. In recording a 1-1 draw, they provided one of their best performances of the season, with Miller thriving in the lone striking role that he often occupies for Scotland.

Earnshaw started the subsequent Carling Cup win over Leicester, playing the full 120 minutes, before returning to the bench for the return of Sven-Goran Eriksson's men the following weekend. An early injury to Craig Conway saw Earnshaw enter play before also picking up a knock, to be replaced by Gestede. He missed the next couple of games, one of which being the 2-1 win over runaway league leaders Southampton, where Miller stole the headlines by scoring both goals.

Earnshaw started the next couple and was substituted on both occasions, he has not started a game since. He has been an unused substitute in nine of the last 12 games, failing to make the matchday squad for the other three. Cardiff have persisted with one up front which has restricted Earnshaw's opportunities, whereas the impressive form of Joe Mason and Miller, who Mackay appears reluctant to withdraw from games of late, plus the aerial threat of Gestede has relegated Earnshaw to fourth choice. Not exactly what he would have envisaged when he opted for to return to South Wales.

Earnshaw has plenty of character and drive, as demonstrated by netting in the Doncaster game a few days after his glaring miss against England at Wembley. He has a real fight on his hands to regain his place and with Mackay in the market for another striker, the situation is likely to become even more difficult before it improves.

On the fringes for club and country, Earnie faces the biggest fight of his career if he is to add to his impressive goalscoring record. I don't fancy his chances at Cardiff at present, but I'm rooting for him and wouldn't bet against him either.