Blackburn’s new signing, Elrio van Heerden, believes he is joining a club “on the rise” again after completing his move from Belgian side Club Brugge.
The South African midfielder joined Rovers on a free transfer earlier in the week following a three-and-a-half year spell in Bruges, which was stilted by injury.
However, with a fresh start at Ewood Park beckoning, Van Heerden is anticipating helping Rovers become a force in The Premier League once more.
“It's a great move for me after what has been a less than memorable experience the past year at Club Brugge,” Van Heerden told Rovers’ official website.
“Blackburn opens up the biggest chapter in my career and I will try to repay the club for showing faith in me by playing my best football at Blackburn.
“The English Premiership is a big league - one of the biggest in the world - and I look forward to testing myself against top players week in and week out.
“Blackburn are a historical club who have enjoyed great success in the past. Last season was obviously one of change for them, following the changes in management, but manager Sam Allardyce has kept the club up and I have no doubt that I am joining a club which will once again be on the rise.”
Van Heerden hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow South Africans who have succeeded in the English top flight.
“It is great to be joining a league where the likes of Aaron Mokoena, Benni McCarthy and Steven Pienaar are playing,” he continued.
“Pienaar has enjoyed a tremendous two seasons so far at Everton. He has shown that, in the English Premiership, where most clubs always want big, powerful players, if a smaller but technically good player is given a chance, he can succeed.
“I will use Pienaar's example as a motivation at Blackburn.”