Chris Lakey Adam Drury admits he spurned advances to lure him away from Carrow Road - and says he has no regrets. The full-back skippered City to promotion from the old First Division and into the Premier League in 2004, but now finds himself preparing to make his 300th appearance, down in the third tier of English football.

Chris Lakey

Adam Drury admits he spurned advances to lure him away from Carrow Road - and says he has no regrets.

The full-back skippered City to promotion from the old First Division and into the Premier League in 2004, but now finds himself preparing to make his 300th appearance, down in the third tier of English football.

However, Carrow Road has become home since Drury moved from Peterborough United in March, 2001 - the endorsement from Barry Fry that he was the "best left back outside of the Premier League" still ringing in his ears.

The 300-appearance mark would have come around sooner had it not been for the injuries which plagued the past two seasons - but there were times the Cambridge-born defender could have been on his way.

"I had a couple of chances, but it's one of those things - at the time you make your decision and stick by it," he said. "I don't regret the decision I've made.

"If I had wanted it or pushed it like some players do to leave I could have done. I could have put pressure on whoever was in charge at that time or made it awkward for them, but I never felt like that, I never wanted to be like that and it's not the sort of person I am.

"I have loved every minute I have had at this club and I don't want it to end yet."

Ending his career at Carrow Road is not something the 31-year-old is ready to contemplate.

"I'm just concentrating on playing at the minute," he said. "Obviously it would be nice, but with the injuries I've had with my knee it is just good to be playing and staying in the side.

"After two years of not playing 10 games a season, to be a regular and playing as many games now as I had in the last two years has been really good and I want that to continue.

"I feel I've been playing pretty well, but when the side's playing well everyone tends to be playing well. But I think it's just getting a run of games which has been the big thing for me."

Drury pleaded for as many minutes as possible during pre-season, but when Bryan Gunn departed and Paul Lambert arrived, he still had some work to do - especially with summer signing Rhoys Wiggins waiting in the background.

But he shares the current honour with Grant Holt of starting every league game this season - and Lambert is clearly a fan.

"He's been terrific," said the City boss. "The way he has played the game, his delivery of the ball and defending one v ones, he's been a major, major plus.

"I know his injury problems of the past, but this season he has been excellent, very good."

Lambert says Drury is the model professional.

"You don't play 300 games if you're not, that's the biggest compliment I can give him," he added. "A terrific pro and he does it right - he's low maintenance."