Rams striker Hulse happy window is closed
The striker rejected a £4m move to Middlesbrough in the summer and was constantly linked with a transfer away from Pride Park last month.
Premier League sides Stoke City and Burnley enquired about taking him on loan. Both approaches were turned down.
The January window closed on Monday and the 30-year-old player-of-the-year and the club's leading scorer last season is still very much a key figure for the Rams.
His seventh goal of a stop-start campaign and his first since late November sank rivals Nottingham Forest last weekend and he produced an impressive display.
"I am pleased that the transfer window has closed now. I am not the type of lad who thrives on speculation," said Hulse.
Hulse added: "Sometimes it (speculation) gets to you when you are walking round the supermarket with your family and people are asking 'where you are going?'.
"Even though I didn't want to go, you just never know in football what happens."
Hulse said the uncertainty over his future did not affect his performances.
He added that he had not regretted for one minute his decision to turn down the chance to join Middlesbrough.
"I never regretted my decision. I woke up next day and never gave it a second thought," said Hulse.
"I suppose I was frustrated if people were saying that maybe my head was not quite right because I thought I was working just as hard, I thought I was trying to do the things I did last season.
"Perhaps certain things were not happening. Perhaps the balls were not coming in the same as last season and so I found that a little bit frustrating.
"But you just have to knuckle down and keep working and keep forcing your way back into the side.
"Every player likes to play every week. If they say they don't mind being on the bench, they are lying.
"Do I think the speculation affected my performance? No, I don't.
"The window has closed and I am just concentrating on the rest of the season."
Hulse met a fine free kick from Kris Commons to power home his winning header against Forest and he believes the victory has provided a big lift for everybody connected with the club.
"The important thing now – and it has been stressed to us – is we have to go on from here," said Hulse.
"We have to use Saturday's win against Forest as a platform. We have done well against most of the sides who are up there in the division, so we have got the ability and the work ethic.
"We all like playing in big games and Forest is one of the biggest of the season for us.
"It was just nice for the lads to get a win and show what we are capable of.
"We're probably better as the underdogs going into games. And better against the better sides.
"I'm not sure why and it's frustrating. I get frustrated myself looking at the table. We shouldn't be down there.
"But you just have to keep working and we showed we were willing to fight for the cause.
"Now we must make sure we don't drop our standards.
"We've got to kick on from here and start picking up the points."
TRUE GRIT: Derby County striker Rob Hulse says the speculation about his future did not worry him.
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