THERE can be few players with a bigger appetite for goals than Robert Earnshaw.

And, with his trademark 'flip' celebration, every time he hits the back of the net, he has become a firm favourite with the Nottingham Forest faithful.

Top scorer for the Reds last season with 17-goals, the Welsh international's goal average is an impressive 0.43 a game.

And he was so close to opening his tally for the new campaign against Leeds yesterday as he saw a first-half effort come back off the post.

But, having been asked to play in a slightly deeper role during pre-season and, again, since the campaign has kicked-off, Earnshaw is happy to do whatever it takes to help Forest be a success.

Playing off the shoulder of Dexter Blackstock at Burnley, Earnshaw again smashed one effort against the foot of the post, as well as being in the right spot at the right time for several other opportunities.

And that theme continued at the City Ground yesterday.

When Forest visit Reading next weekend, the 29-year-old is likely to fill a similar role, with Billy Davies likely to favour a 4-2-3-1 approach.

But he is more than happy with the prospect.

"I am used to it because I have done it throughout my career. I have played behind the front man plenty of times before," he said.

"I am experienced at playing in behind and I do enjoy it.

"Sometimes you get more chances playing in the deeper role.

"You can work that way and I have done that throughout pre-season really, in that slightly deeper position.

"The manager really likes it and I have enjoyed it. It is working for us and I am liking it.

"I still get plenty of chances, in fact, against Burnley, it helped, because I was able to time my runs off Dexter.

"I think it is something that can work for us, for sure."

What is of more significance for Earnshaw is that Forest, as a team, strive to improve on their remarkable achievements last season.

"Last season is last season. Now we have to be just as good, in fact we have to push on a little as well," he said.

"If we want promotion or if we want to figure in the battle, we have to get that little bit better.

"We are confident. Last season was a very good experience. We were so nearly there.

"We have young players who will take last season on board, who will get even better.

"We need to step it up and go again. It is a tough, long season. But we need to enjoy it. We need to pass the ball in the right way and play it. We need to do that because this is Nottingham Forest.

"If we do that, we can win games."