CHRIS LAKEY Ex-Canary Darel Russell has dismissed transfer speculation linking him with a move back to Carrow Road.

CHRIS LAKEY

Ex-Canary Darel Russell has dismissed transfer speculation linking him with a move back to Carrow Road.

Russell, one of the architects of Stoke City's 5-0 hammering of City in October, is rumoured to be on Norwich manager Peter Grant's January shopping list - more than three years after going the other way in a £125,000 deal.

But the 26-year-old - November's Championship Player of the Month - insists he's going nowhere.

"I have 18 months left on my contract and I am more than happy at Stoke City as things are going so well at present," said Russell.

"For the first time in my time here the team and the board are showing the same ambition - we are all trying to get promoted."

Russell has become a vital player in Tony Pulis' promotion push with a series of improved displays alongside high-profile loan recruits Lee Hendrie and Salif Diao which have taken the Potteries from potential relegation candidates to promotion hopefuls.

However, he admitted to having had some problems at the start of the season.

"Things were difficult then," he said. "I missed home a lot. But I spoke to the manager about it and we sorted it out. At some point in my career I would love to move back down south, as that is where my friends and family are, but I am not looking for anything now.

"I am coming in every day and enjoying my time at the club, and that is always good. As long as we are playing good football everything else is secondary."

Grant has also been linked with a move for Aberdeen's long-serving skipper Russell Anderson - although there would be strong competition in the shape of the City's boss' former club Celtic.

Reports north of the border say that Celtic and City are both interested in the 28-year-old - but the player says he has every intention of remaining at Pittodrie for the rest of his career.

"It is good for the club that we are winning games and are high up the league, but this sort of speculation comes with the territory," he said. "I am oblivious to it. It's something which came out of the blue and there's no reason to do anything other than get on with what I do.

"I read that Aberdeen would like to speak to me about a long-term deal and I have always said I'd be more than happy to listen.

"I could end up finishing my career at Aberdeen but I still have 18 months left on my current contract."