DAVID Norris has quashed speculation that he will be making a shock return to Portman Road.

Speculation has been rife that the former Blues skipper could be on his way back to the club as a midfield replacement for the departing Grant Leadbitter.

Blues boss Paul Jewell had offered Norris a new deal before his Bosman switch to Portsmouth last summer, while chief executive Simon Clegg revealed recently that he had been in regular contact with the player.

However, in an exclusive interview with the Ipswich Star, the 31-year-old was quick to down play the rumour.

“I know there’s been speculation because my brother asked me the other day if I was going back to Ipswich,” said Norris.

“With the situation being the way it is at Portsmouth it does look like I am going to have to move on and I’ll soon be speaking to a few clubs.

“I don’t think Ipswich will be one of them though. It’s true that I’ve kept in contact with Simon Clegg, but it’s literally just been the odd catch-up text every now and again – nothing more.”

Norris was the first big-money signing of the Marcus Evans era back in January 2008, with manager Jim Magilton finally landing his long-term transfer target for a fee of around �2m from Plymouth.

Making over 100 appearances for the Blues over three-and-a-half seasons, the energetic midfielder was offered a new two-year contract last summer but admitted the option of a three-year deal at Pompey was too good to turn down.

The move hasn’t worked out as he’d hoped though, with Portsmouth getting into severe financial difficulties and being relegated from the Championship.

The south coast club’s administrators are currently in the process of selling off any valuable assets in the playing staff, with Norris believed to be available for around �750,000. Leicester City and newly-promoted Championship side Sheffield Wednesday have both been linked.