Norwich City midfielder Wes Hoolahan will do everything he can to help Norwich City's Premier League survival push.

The Irishman has spoken for the first time about his understated goal celebration in last weekend's 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa and insisted he was 'over the moon' to notch against the club who tried to sign him in January.

Hoolahan's muted reaction following his early strike at Villa Park sparked a widespread debate in the immediate aftermath before Chris Hughton revealed on Thursday the matter was now closed after speaking to the Republic of Ireland international. The Dubliner backed his manager's stance and was adamant he had not meant to cause any disrespect.

'Obviously it was the first few minutes of the game and you know, when I saw it hit the back of the net I was ecstatic and over the moon with the goal,' he told the club's official site. 'It's been a difficult few months but I certainly wasn't disappointed about scoring, I was delighted with the goal. I did a fist-pump and throughout the whole game I ran my heart out for the fans and for the team. At the end of the game I went over to the fans to say sorry for what a disappointing result it was.

'I've got so much respect for the Norwich fans because obviously they've given me a lot of support over the years so I certainly didn't mean to disrespect anybody with the celebration and I'm sorry if anyone's taken it the wrong way because I was over the moon with my goal.

'I was delighted to score personally and for the team and the fans although obviously really disappointed that we went on to lose the game.'

Hoolahan had a transfer request rejected following the initial transfer enquiry from Paul Lambert's Aston Villa but the 31-year-old will give his all if called upon over the Canaries' run-in.

'It's been frustrating being out of the side, of course every professional footballer wants to be playing. You work hard in training week-in, week-out in order to basically get ready to play in games. But you've just got to keep your head down and work hard,' he said. 'We've got a great bunch of lads here, we've got a great team spirit and we're a good unit together and hopefully at the end of the season we'll finish as high up the table as we can.

'Once the window closes you know where you stand and my head's definitely here. I've got to work 100 per cent which I've always done when I've pulled on the Norwich City shirt and I'll always be fighting for the team until the last minute of the game. The fans have been great to me ever since I arrived and cheered my name when I'm on the pitch. It's special to me and I enjoy every minute of it.'