ROBERT Earnshaw will be fit enough to start against Barnsley on Saturday, as Nottingham Forest look to claw their way out of trouble – and preserve Colin Calderwood's position as manager.

It remains uncertain whether the Scot will still be in charge come the weekend, with speculation continuing that the club hierarchy is ready to swing the axe and end Calderwood's two-and-a-half year reign.

Former Derby manager Billy Davies has been approached to see if he would be interested in the role and could still be installed over the next 48 hours.

Calderwood has found himself under pressure after a run of just two wins from 19 matches after steering the club back into the Championship.

But, if he is at the helm this weekend, he will be boosted by the return to fitness of Earnshaw.

The striker was a surprise inclusion on the bench for the draw at Doncaster on Tuesday evening, following a troublesome calf injury.

But Calderwood revealed he is ready to plunge the Welsh international back into the starting line-up – and that he could still be partnered up front by a new signing.

The under-fire Reds boss revealed that Earnshaw had only been included in the squad after demanding to be given a pre-match fitness test, when it had looked 100% certain he would not be fit only 24 hours before.

"We had said it would be a miracle if he made it into the squad on Tuesday. But he forced us to give him a fitness test in the morning," he said.

"They gave him some treatment on Monday and he had a positive reaction.

"We were still nervous when we brought him on, we did not know whether to start him knowing that, at some stage, he would have to come off, or have him on the bench to bring on for the final stages.

"It will help him in his head to know he has come and played. I know he is one player who could have come on and won the game for us on Saturday night.

"He looks as if he could play on Saturday, we could use him if we needed to. At this stage it is important for us to get some minutes of football into him, once he has that, he will only improve."

Earnshaw's Forest career has been hampered by a succession of niggling injuries, ensuring he has never had the opportunity to justify his £2.6m price tag, making only nine league starts and two substitute appearances since his move from Derby.

But, with his scoring record in the Championship, Forest will be hoping he can now return to the side and start to fire them up the table.

Chris Cohen will be ruled out for a while with an ankle problem although Matt Thornhill could return to face Barnsley.

"Chris is probably two to three weeks out," said Calderwood. "But Matt Thornhill could be in contention this weekend.

"We have made one or two phone calls [about loan signings] because we have seven games before we can take anyone else and you can see what effect a knock or two would have on us.

"We also have a suspension looming over Nathan's head, with him on four bookings. We have to have enough cover but, again, Mark Byrne added something to the game [at Doncaster].

"But as we develop as a squad, the results have to develop as well and we are aware of that."