JOSH King has already had to convince his mum to let him pursue his dream of playing in English football so has no qualms about convincing Rovers boss Henning Berg to give him a starting berth.

Rovers’ newest signing joined this week on loan from Manchester United with a view to a permanent deal in January with the 20-year-old striker in line for a debut in this afternoon’s clash with Millwall.

And King, who featured for United in their Champions League defeat to Galatasary in midweek, is keen to get started.

“I’m very excited to be here,” he said. “Hopefully in the next six weeks I can do well, try to improve as a player and learn off the other players.”

King’s journey to Ewood Park is an interesting one, born in Oslo the youngster was spotted by Manchester United aged 15 with the Old Trafford giants taking him to England as a teenager.

Loan spells with Preston North End and Hull City in the Championship, along with time in Germany with Borussia Monchengladbach followed, before he arrived at Ewood Park, where he is keen to make himself at home.

“It was an easy decision to come,” King said. “I need to be comfortable where I play football.

“What Henning told me with his plans and why he wanted me and where he wanted me to play I felt confident that it suits me. Also, I live in Manchester and I don’t have to move across the world to play football.

“Nothing changes, I can concentrate on football and nothing else.

Of his move to Sir Alex Ferguson’s giants he said: “United spotted me in the Nike Premier Cup and I went over for a trial and after the first session they wanted to sign me and move me over straight away but my mum said no because I had to go to school.

“But after a few months I was off. We made it possible for a couple of the teachers to come across from Norway so it worked out.”

The youngster, who has four caps for his country and scored his first international goal against Cyprus earlier this year, now believes he is ready for a run of first-team games at Championship level.

He said: “I’ve been on a few loan spells, been unlucky and got injuries. At Preston I was a bit unlucky I got two ankle injuries as soon as I started doing well.

“I had a good spell at Hull but as soon as I got going the season ended. It was a heavy time with a lot of games but I am ready for the Champ-ionship. “I have been at this level before and so I know I can cope with it.”

King is confident he is joining a side on the up, and one where he can put his Manchester United-schooled traditions to good use.

He added: “The Championship is a proper league but I have come to a team that plays football. I watched the game against Peterborough and Blackburn tried to play football and that suits me.

“I am from United and what we do is play football so I am glad to come here and get in a team that does that. I want to try and play football in this league and not run after long balls.

“The main reason I came here is to get competitive football at a high level. United’s reserve team is a great team, full of talents and great players but I have been in there for three years and it is time for me to step up.

King is ready to step straight into the team if needs be, but knows he has to fight his way the Rovers starting XI.

“It would be great to make my debut at home against Millwall – they haven’t lost in 10 games so it is time for them to lose.

“I don’t talk a lot, I’m not going to say ‘I am going to be the man.’ I will train hard every day and try and show the staff here that I want to get in the team.

“Once I get in the team I want to take my chance like everyone else.”