BIRMINGHAM midfielder Barry Ferguson insists he was not a flop at Blackburn as he prepares to return to Ewood for the first time in tonight’s Premier League clash.

Ferguson made the switch from Rangers to Rovers in 2003 before deciding to move back to Ibrox for a second spell two years later.

He was handicapped by a knee injury but is adamant he made a telling contribution when fit and skippered the side under Graeme Souness and Mark Hughes.

Ferguson, a strong candidate to be Birmingham’s player of the year, said: “I was captain at Blackburn. I don’t know why people have the perception that it didn’t go well for me there.

“Maybe it was because I was injured.

“I had a bad knee injury but I came back and, when Graeme Souness left, Mark Hughes came in and I was still captain.

“I enjoyed my time at Blackburn and I thought I played well.

“I think if you asked Blackburn fans then they would agree.

“I think I gave everything I had and I made a lot of good friends as well.”

Ferguson admits he may have made a mistake returning to Rangers but balances that view with the fact he won more trophies with the Scottish giants.

He said: “Rangers came back in for me and my heart led me back up the road whereas, if I look back, maybe I should have stayed down in England.

“Maybe when I finish playing, I’ll look back and say, ‘Maybe I was a bit stupid to go back up to Scotland’.”