Norwich City players' heads have not been turned by stories linking them with other Premier League clubs, defender Russell Martin insists.

Martin and midfielder Andrew Surman have both been mentioned as potential targets for last Sunday's opponents, Newcastle United, while winger Anthony Pilkington's early-season displays prompted reports that Liverpool were interested, and skipper Grant Holt was the subject of an unsuccessful bid from Glasgow Rangers before their financial problems forced them into administration.

But the transfer talk has cut no ice at Colney, according to the 25-year-old full-back.

'I saw it, yes, but I don't pay much attention to all that, to be honest. I don't think any of the lads do,' said Martin.

'You get a lot of speculation and rumour in football. It's just one of those things. It's always nice to be linked with clubs but I'm really happy to be here.

'I think 'Surs' was linked as well. Holty has been linked with all sorts of clubs. It happens when you're doing well. I think it's a sign of the team's success this season, but we've got a really happy bunch of lads here, so we don't pay much attention to that.'

While Martin said no one had been unsettled by the reports, he acknowledged that the transfer gossip was a reflection of City's rapid rise in status.

He said: 'As a group and individually it shows how far we've come in a short space of time. We just have to keep doing well as a team to get the plaudits individually, otherwise it doesn't happen.

'We've done it together and we'll carry on doing it. We're not a one-man team, it's not about individuals.

'Everyone has said it – we are greater as a team than we are as individuals and that's the way we've got success, playing as a team and working hard as a squad.'

The Canaries are still looking for the points to guarantee their Premier League place for another season, and although they are still 14 points clear of the bottom three, their 1-0 defeat at Newcastle means they have taken just one point out of a possible 12 since the 3-2 win at Swansea.

'A couple more wins would be nice just to get over that 40-point barrier and then you'd know you'd be safe. We'll aim for that and the sooner we get there the better,' said Martin.

'You never know. A team at the bottom could go on a run. They're going to drop points and get points off each other so it's going to be really tight but we just need to stay out of that and keep picking up points steadily.

'It's nice to have that cushion because it's going to get really interesting down there. We just need to keep that cushion.'