Norwich City loan striker Alan Lee has revealed that he felt he deserved better than being effectively shown the door by Ipswich Town last year.As the two clubs prepare for Sunday's Championship derby at Portman Road, 30-year-old Lee said he felt he had no option but to leave Town last August, when he moved to Crystal Palace in a �600,000 deal.

Norwich City loan striker Alan Lee has revealed that he felt he deserved better than being effectively shown the door by Ipswich Town last year.

As the two clubs prepare for Sunday's Championship derby at Portman Road, 30-year-old Lee said he felt he had no option but to leave Town last August, when he moved to Crystal Palace in a �600,000 deal.

“I am not anybody's mug,” he said. “I didn't want to leave, but I felt I did not have a choice.

“If you are not wanted it's best to get out of it.

“This is how football is, but I felt I did enough for Ipswich to deserve more.”

But playing for Palace, and now for Norwich, means Lee has been able to keep his home on the Suffolk-Essex border.

“I love it in this part of the world,” he said. “It helped me play the best football of my career at Ipswich. And I'm sure it will do the same at Norwich.

“East Anglia is a wonderful place to live and I feel really settled here. I have lived all over the place, but East Anglia now feels like home.

“I have many friends here and the quality of life is tip-top. I can get in my car and drive to the Norwich training ground in little over an hour, which is great.”

Lee is very happy at Carrow Road but is unsure at what the future might bring.

“I am feeling settled at Norwich just like I did in my early days at Ipswich,” he said. “And this will bring the best out of me.

“It is hard to say what will happen after my loan period is over, but Norwich are a great club and I am really enjoying it.

“I really want to make a difference and keep the Canaries in the Championship.

“There was no fall-out with Palace or manager Neil Warnock, but it was an uphill battle for me after suffering three bouts of hamstring problems soon after joining the club.

“Palace are a good club, but I felt a fresh start was the right thing to do - and Norwich was the one for me.”

Lee admits he will enjoy the moment if he scores on Sunday - after his Palace goal against Town earlier this season.

“If I put the ball between two coats in the back yard I celebrate,” said Lee. “You score a goal and it is the best feeling.

“People might look at my return to Portman Road giving me extra pleasure if I net, but it would be for my team-mates - and for our fans who pay their money.

“And a goal is no good if it is not accompanied by three points, and this will be my aim on Sunday.”