New signing Marc Tierney last night insisted that his vow 'never to play for Norwich City' had been taken out of context.

The 25-year-old left-back put pen to paper on a two and a half year deal, having moved from Colchester United for an undisclosed fee.

News of his arrival was met with more than a few raised eyebrows among supporters who were quick to point out the comments of a year ago, when, a few days after playing in the team which was on the wrong side of a 5-0 home defeat by City, Tierney vowed not to follow Paul Lambert out of Essex and into Norfolk.

But Tierney insists it was much ado about nothing, saying: 'That's just football. I just moved really to quash any rumours that last year were distracting my team, Colchester – there was no truth in it and the best way to do that was to say that I wouldn't be coming here.

'That got somewhat blown up, but I am delighted to be here and delighted to put my body on the line for Norwich and do the best I can for the club.'

Tierney was a regular at Colchester under Lambert and follows David Fox (also Colchester) and Russell Martin (Wycombe) in re-signing for his previous manager.

'He is a very good manager, the best I've worked with and to work with him again is an honour and hopefully I can do myself proud and not let anyone down,' Tierney told the club's website. 'I try and pride myself in being able to be trusted with the job and hopefully I can do that again.

'I am massively pleased to join this massive club. I spoke to David Fox about the club and I know a couple of the lads, Grant Holt and Aaron Wilbraham, and obviously worked with the manager and his staff before and I'm ecstatic to move to this club.

'It's a brilliant chance for me to ply me trade in the Championship and it's a great bunch of lads. I've been talking to a couple of them already and there's fierce competition for places, so I can't wait to get started.'

Tierney is relishing joining Adam Drury and the injured Steve Smith in the competition for the left-back spot.

'That's what all the players will want if you ask them, they want competition for places,' he said. 'It keeps everyone on their toes and you know if you're on the ball you will be in the team and if you're not you're out of the team and someone will come in and do the job and I think that's what a team like Norwich need to push to the top of the league and that's what it's got at the minute.

'I can't wait to get into the Championship and hopefully I can do myself justice when given the opportunity, that's the main thing for me, just to train as hard as I can and get as fit as I can. I have had a couple of weeks out with an operation about a month ago but I am fit and ready to go and hopefully I can try and get in the team.

'I just want to add to the quality that's already here, try and fight for a place like everyone will do and there's absolutely no reason why the club can't continue to push forward, especially with the fan base and the way the gaffer's got the lads playing and the belief in themselves is really high at the minute, and long may that continue.

'I have seen first hand both away and at home down at Colchester that the fans come in their droves here –the team was absolutely flying and they have really taken that on this year and there's no reason why they can't continue to push in the second half of the season. I wanted to be part of that and luckily it's all worked out okay.'

Tierney will be hoping to make his debut in the big home clash against second-placed Cardiff tomorrow and is expecting a red-hot atmosphere.

'Every game is a massive game for this club and none bigger than that one, really, especially at the top of the table and both clubs doing so well and it should be an exciting game,' he said. 'I've seen it at first hand – it's absolutely electric really. The gaffer has told me about the place and I've spoke to players who have come and played here and they are really overawed with the kind of atmosphere that it brings and that will definitely spur the lads on and hopefully we can get a positive result.'

Tierney leaves Colchester after two years, and Us boss John Ward believes it's a good move.

'We've not had Marc's services for a little while, so it's disappointing he's not been able to go out on a bit of a bang for us, but he's moving to a Championship club that's got realistic ambitions of moving up another level as well so it's a good move to him,' Ward said.

'We made Marc an offer, he turned it down and Norwich came in. It was just done as normal football business. I think Marc is one of the best players in this division in that position, he's a very good left-back and that's obviously been recognised.

''We have got a good deal for him though that suits our football club. We knew Marc would have been out of contract and those things you have to deal with. We've made sure we've got a deal we're comfortable with.'