Lawrence pledges future to Stoke

Lawrence has not started a Premier League game since 27 September

Stoke City midfielder Liam Lawrence insists he never considered a transfer away from the Britannia Stadium, despite his lack of first-team action.

Lawrence was linked with a move to Derby County in the transfer window as he looked to regain full fitness from an ankle injury picked up in September.

But the 27-year-old told BBC Radio Stoke: "All I want to do is play football and I love playing for Stoke.

"When I came we were doing OK, but we've gone on to achieve great things."

With Rory Delap suspended, Lawrence could make his first Premier League start in over four months when the Potters play his former club Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

"I've been chomping at the bit for weeks now, hopefully I'll get that chance and I'll take it," Lawrence added. "I'm no good to anybody sat on the bench.

"I've still got a lot of friends up there that are still at the club - people like Dean Whitehead, Danny Collins and a few of the backroom staff too, so it'll be good to see some old faces.

"It's a fantastic stadium, especially when it's full and there's 48,000 people screaming their heads off. They're a good set of fans and it will be good to play in front of them again."