IGNORING friends and deleting Twitter helped Callum O’Dowda stay levelheaded during speculation over his future during the transfer window.

The winger was one of several Oxford United players linked with moves to clubs in higher divisions last month.

Rumours connecting O’Dowda with Sky Bet Championship side Derby County surfaced several times, but the 20-year-old did everything he could to avoid hearing the stories.

He said: “I literally just used my phone for texts, I deleted Twitter and got rid of everything.

“I don’t think it was too hard, to be honest. I think I dealt with in a positive way.

“Even when my friends were talking about it I wouldn’t reply to them.

“I left it as it is and whatever happens, happens.

“I just wanted to focus on my football because I didn’t want all the conversations just to be about that.”

And while the Republic of Ireland under 21 international admits there was plenty of stick from teammates, he insists there was never a moment when it appeared his future in January lay elsewhere.

He said: “No, I didn’t think there was, to be honest.

“There was a lot of speculation, but I didn’t have any major chats with anyone.”

He added: “Of course it is a compliment to know you are being talked about.

“You could say it’s in a positive way because you are being linked to higher clubs, but just wanted to keep myself to myself and focus on me.”