Manager Paul Lambert has no fear that promotion to the Premier League might be too much, too soon for Norwich City.

With the Canaries fifth in the Championship table with 13 games to go, they are well placed to challenge for at least a play-off place in May, and are only three points off second place going into tomorrow's match at Barnsley.

But, asked if a return to the top flight could come too quickly for last season's League One champions, he insisted: 'No. I'd rather worry about that if we got up, rather than not have that worry.'

Lambert, in an online interview with Yahoo!, also spoke about loan signing Henri Lansbury – and admitted City were a long way from being in a position to try to sign the 20-year-old on a permanent basis.

'I think Arsenal are the main players in that one,' he said. 'He's a Barclays Premier League player. He's at a terrific football club, and he's learning all the time.

'I think we're a long way from being able to ask Arsenal if we can take him permanently. He might have a big future at Arsenal.'

Lambert was also quizzed over whether he would ever consider becoming Scotland boss, but said: 'At this moment in time I think club football is what I want to do. I want to try and do as best we can with Norwich. Where that is going to take us remains to be seen.

'I just want to try to do everything as well as I can here until something tells me otherwise, whether that be good, bad or indifferent. I want to strive for the best that I can be.'

• Paul Lambert was speaking to Yahoo! through its partnership with the League Managers Association. Visit The Dugout at www.yahoo.co.uk/dugout