TONIGHT Elliott Bennett hopes to pull on the Blackburn Rovers shirt for the first time after rejecting the chance to stay on at the team he played against them with just a month ago.

Bristol City matched Rovers’ offer for the versatile winger when it became clear his parent club Norwich City would be the willing to let him leave in the January transfer window.

Bennett enjoyed his time at the Championship new boys, who gave him the playing time he lacked at Norwich after recovering from the serious knee injury that ruled him out for almost the entirety of the 2013-14 campaign.

But once the call came from Paul Lambert, the manager he enjoyed the best season of his career under, there was never any doubt in his mind that Rovers, and not the Robins, were the club for him.

Lambert first signed Bennett after Norwich had won promotion to the Premier League in 2011.

The pair only worked together for a year before the current Rovers boss was headhunted by top-flight rivals Aston Villa.

But those 12 months at Carrow Road left a lasting impression on Bennett.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bristol City and I thank them for giving me the opportunity to play and get my fitness up,” said the 27-year-old, who was in line to make his Rovers debut in Saturday’s postponed FA Cup clash at Newport County.

“They had a bid accepted as well as Blackburn but once I spoke to the manager here I couldn’t wait to get started.

“I owe a lot to Bristol City for taking me on loan and giving me the opportunity to play as that gave me the chance to show the manager here what I can do. Thankfully he came and got me and I’m delighted I’m here.

Lancashire Telegraph:

“I absolutely loved working for him at Norwich. There are no grey areas. You know exactly what you’re going to get. Everything is black and white, which I like.

“It was a fantastic year for me personally and for Norwich. To finish 12th in the Premier League and play some of the football we did against some of the top opposition… it was the highlight of my career definitely so far and I hope I can have some more good times under him at Blackburn Rovers.”

Bennett was part of the Bristol City side which lost 2-0 to Rovers on December 5.

The Ewood Park outfit followed that Ashton Gate success up with four points from the next six on offer to stretch their unbeaten start to five matches under Lambert.

But since then they have slipped to three straight 1-0 away defeats, a run of form they will hope to reverse when they entertain QPR tonight.

Bennett has no doubt that Lambert can enjoy the same success as he had Norwich with Rovers.

“That year we pressed really high up the pitch, we worked really hard for each other, we had great team spirit, and we played some really good football at times,” said Bennett.

“That’s what drew me to Paul Lambert again here. I know exactly what I’m getting from him and he knows exactly what he’s getting from me.”