LAZIO'S experienced midfielder Dario Marcolin is a man in a hurry - to prove himself in English football.

The opportunity to take up a new challenge with Blackburn Rovers proved too tempting to resist for the former Italian under-21 skipper who completed an extended loan move to Ewood last night.

As we exclusively revealed in later editions of last night's Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Rovers have agreed a £100,000 loan deal with Lazio to take Marcolin until the end of the season, with an option to buy the left-footed central midfielder for £900,000.

He has made occasional starts this season for the Lazio first team in Serie A, The European Cup Winners' Cup and the Italian Super Cup but has mainly been on the substitutes' bench.

And, after training with his new team-mates for the first time, he said: "I am very happy to be here in Blackburn and now it is my job to show to the team that I am a good player and can play at high levels.

"I know about Blackburn Rovers because, in Italy, many people have the chance to see English football and there is a lot of interest because of the Italian players who come to play in England.

"I have been impressed by the manager, Roy Hodgson. I remember him as a gentleman and a good man when he was in Italy with Inter Milan." Ironically, Lazio are currently bossed by Sven Goran Eriksson, the Swede who was originally earmarked to follow Ray Harford as Rovers boss.

And Marcolin, speaking via Rovers fitness coach Arnaldo Longaretti, revealed he is also an admirer of Eriksson's management.

"I have been playing with Lazio for seven years and have played 80 or 90 games," he said. "But maybe now is the moment to change and try a new experience."

Rovers were trying to gain international clearance for Marcolin, 27 earlier this week, in time for him to be included in the squad at Wimbledon.

He has a good pedigree, having been part of the Italian side which won the under-21 championship twice in the early 1990s.

The second time he was captain, under Cesare Maldini's management.

Co-incidentally, Paul Gascoigne joined Lazio around the same time as Marcolin and he recalls - with a smile - playing with Gazza as "an experience"!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.