MARKUS Olsson is hoping new boss Paul Lambert’s promotion-winning track record can transform Blackburn Rovers into Championship contenders.

Rovers are currently 11 points off the play-off places after winning only three of their opening 16 league matches.

It is a run of form that cost Gary Bowyer his job and led Lambert to being named as his successor in the Ewood Park hotseat.

The former Celtic midfielder oversaw Norwich City’s rise from League One to the Premier League before leaving for Aston Villa.

And, after training for the first time under Lambert on Monday, left-back Olsson said: “It was the first day at training with him today and you feel it when he comes in, what kind of manager he is.

“He’s a big manager and he has that experience and knowledge of promotions and hopefully he can get that out of the players in the squad and we can take it out on the pitch.

“Hopefully this club can be where they belong.

“Everyone wants to impress the manager, of course. I think he already knows how the players are but to see them training is a different thing.

“Today was a good session and it won’t be easy for him to take a starting 11.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Rovers, who are in their fourth season outside of the top flight, will attempt to make up ground on the top six on Saturday.

They travel to Preston North End for what will be Lambert’s first game in charge and their first since Bowyer was sacked.

Asked whether he was surprised to see Bowyer go, Olsson said: “Yes, a little bit of course. But on the other hand that’s football and that’s how football works. Everyone knows that.

“Now we’ve got in Lambert and we see a lot of positive in that as well. We’re trying to kick on now and hopefully the club will be where they belong soon.”

Olsson was speaking at Monday’s MBNA Northwest Football Awards where he was named the Championship Player of the Year.

The award came on the back of the Sweden international being named Rovers’ Player of the Year.

And Olsson said: “It’s something I’m proud of. It’s been a lot of hard work and I’m happy that people recognise it as well.

“It makes it feel more special when you have two strikers that are scoring over 20 goals (Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede). The fans voted for me and it makes me happy.”

Olsson’s form last season was rewarded with a contract extension that expires next summer.

The 27-year-old told the Lancashire Telegraph last month that talks over a new deal had not taken place.

That remains the case and asked on Monday about his future, Olsson said: “I don’t know what’s happening and I don’t know what is going to happen.

“I love it here, I love Blackburn as a club as well. I’ve one year left now and there’s not much talk with the club. It’s something I try not to focus on too much, I just try to focus on my football and play every week.

“When the club want to talk to me of course I’m going to listen to Blackburn. It’s a club that gave me the chance to play in England and gave me the chance to play Premier League, Championship football.

“I enjoy it very much here and I would never not listen to Blackburn.”

Centre-back Shane Duffy will return to training today after being an unused member of the Republic of Ireland squad which sealed a place at Euro 2016 with play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday.