Paul Lambert admitted the decision to allow Michael Nelson to leave for Scunthorpe on transfer deadline had been a tough one to make.

On a day when City were trying in vain to lure Brighton winger Elliott Bennett for a sum reportedly approaching �1m, Nelson was a surprise departure from Carrow Road.

'That was a hard one,' said the City boss. 'It really was tough. If the truth be known, if I was to let him out on loan he was going nowhere. Scunthorpe made a bid, I told Michael because I think he is a brilliant lad with a heart of gold. Somebody of 30 years of age and having a young family, he needed security which I couldn't give him.

'So I am delighted for him. I didn't want Michael Nelson to get to the end of the season and for me to turn around and tell him, 'thanks very much'. Then he is one of 800 people looking for a club. I owed it to him to try and help him on a personal note.'

Meanwhile, Nelson is itching to make what he expects to be a 'tasty' Scunthorpe debut in Saturday's Humber derby against Hull City.

The defender, who signed a two-and-a-half- year deal at Glanford Park, can't wait to get back on to the pitch, having had to watch from the stands during the Iron's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

He is likely to be drafted into the heart of the back four when Hull travel across the Humber Bridge.

The former Canary is likely to be one of several new faces making their home debuts against the Tigers – he was their ninth signing of the January window.

And he believes fans have plenty of reasons to be upbeat, given the quality of some of the arrivals.

'Obviously I knew where Scunthorpe were in the league when I came up here, but I was not going to let that put me off,' said Nelson.

'If you look at the signings that have been made here during the January window it gives you a little bit of encouragement that things can turn around and start moving in the right direction.

'Hopefully, I can bring the positive winning mentality I have had with Norwich over the past 18 months to Scunthorpe.

'And when you see here the likes of Andy Hughes, who has been in a similar position to me at Leeds, hopefully he can do that as well and it can rub off on the rest of the lads here.'

Nelson has never been one to shirk a challenge, so the 30-year-old insists he was not fazed by signing for a team who are battling to save their Championship status.

And having already experienced the bitter taste of relegation, Nelson does not want another one on his CV.

He said: 'It happened to me in my first season at Bury and again at Hartlepool.

'It's something I don't want to experience again.'