AS Middlesbrough first team coach Steve Agnew attempts to add a fourth Premier League promotion to his CV, he cannot help but look back on his first taste of glory with a deep sense of regret.

The then 26-year-old midfielder became Blackburn Rovers’ record signing when he arrived at Ewood from Barnsley in June 1991 for £700,000, one of the first of many big money signings brought in under the Jack Walker revolution.

Agnew though was forced to watch Rovers’ extraordinary rise from also-rans to power houses from the sidelines as an ankle injury restricted him to just four appearances - before moving on to Leicester City during Rovers’ Premier League adventure.

He went on to make up for his disappointment in East Lancashire by helping both Leicester and Sunderland to promotion to the Premier League, completing a memorable hat-trick, but admits he can’t help but feel frustrated at his Rovers career.

He said: “It was a real disappointment for me. I moved on to Leicester where I enjoyed another promotion to the Premier League, but I have always regretted not nailing down a first team place at Blackburn.

“If I was a paying fan at Blackburn or Jack Walker, who paid that money for me, I would have expected more from me than they actually got.

“Because of the sort of person I am, I would have liked to have given the supporters and the club something more back. Unfortunately I was never able to do so.”

By the time Agnew had recovered from his ankle injury, Don Mackay had been replaced as manager by Kenny Dalglish and a number of high profile signings had suddenly come through the door.

The season ultimately ended in triumph, as Mike Newell’s penalty saw off Leicester City in the play-off final to take Rovers into the Premier League, but for Agnew it spelt the end of a career at Ewood that had never really begun.

He said: “I was just a victim of circumstance really. It was only two games in when I went over on my ankle and I never really got back fit at Rovers to show what I could do.

“By the time I had recovered, Kenny had been appointed and had brought in some big money players in midfield. The team was flying high in the division and it became very difficult for me.

“Of course they were fantastic times for the club but it was frustrating for me. I wanted to repay the faith shown by the club but I was just going through rehabilitation really.”

As two of his former clubs, Rovers and Sunderland, go head to head at the Stadium Light tomorrow with the Ewood Park outfit looking to make it 14 unbeaten against the Black Cats, Agnew’s Middlesbrough entertain Doncaster looking to maintain a decent start in the Championship.

The 43-year-old is enjoying the challenge of helping Middles-brough attempt to regain their Premier League status at the first attempt and believes ultimate success could prove his most crucial promotion yet.

He said: “The achievement of promotion to the Premier League is the same at any club. That is the goal and I don’t think I could ever say promotion at one club was a bigger achievement than promotion at another.

“At Blackburn, Leicester and Sunderland, it was a huge achievement to get promoted to the Premier League, even though I do feel regret at not having played my part when at Blackburn.

“But the financial implications within a club of being in the Premier League seem to increase with every season. The objectives and aims of promotion has a huge financial reward these days. Bigger than ever before.

“The Premier League is the best league in the world at the moment as well. Everyone wants to be in the league and hopefully next season will see Middlesbrough back with Sunderland and Blackburn back in that league.”

Agnew, who also enjoyed a spell as assistant manager at Hartlepool, insists Rovers still hold a special place in his heart though - claiming both of his old clubs deserve huge credit for their achievements.

He said: “It is great to see both Blackburn and Sunderland up there still - we just hope Middlesbrough will be back there soon with them.

“Blackburn are a very well run club and I was really looked after during my time there. I have a lot of time for them and for Sunderland.

“Both have done fantastically well to be where they are and long may it continue.”