DANNY Guthrie believes new Blackburn Rovers signing Hope Akpan can be a success at Ewood Park, writes SAM JONES.

Nigeria international Akpan has followed fellow midfielder Guthrie in joining Rovers from Reading, signing a two-year contract earlier this week.

Guthrie said: “I spent a couple of years with Hope at Reading, he’s a top fella and I got on with him really well.

“He’s really impressive physically and really good technically, so I think it’s a good signing for the club. He came through at Everton, so he was brought up properly and he knows how to play.”

There is now plenty of competition for places in midfield, with Akpan and Guthrie pushing for a starting berth alongside the likes of Jason Lowe, Corry Evans and Lee Williamson.

“No team is any good without competition,” Guthrie added.

“People can’t rest on their laurels and you never know what’s going to happen in the season with injuries, so the more quality bodies you have the better.”