BENJANI is relishing another season at Blackburn Rovers after insisting he has never considered looking for a fresh challenge elsewhere.

The former Zimbabwe international’s Rovers contract expired at the end of last campaign but, despite being included on the club’s released list, expects to be returning to Ewood Park.

The 32-year-old told the Lancashire Telegraph yesterday he has been offered a new one-year deal by Rovers boss Steve Kean and, while there are still small details to be ironed out, he believes it will be finalised in the next few days.

Rovers boss Steve Kean was unavailable for comment although he did admit last month he had been significantly impressed by Benjani’s end to last season to hand him an Ewood life line.

It would mark a dramatic turnaround in his Rovers fortunes having been written off by the club just a few months after joining Rovers last August as a free transfer.

Limited early appearances left him unable to play the number of games needed to trigger an automatic second year at the club and Rovers’ management had all but decided to release him this summer.

But a strong end to the season impressed Kean enough to change his mind and Benjani now expects to be back in East Lancashire for another season at least.

He said: “Yes, yes, I will be back at Blackburn Rovers again next season. I think the deal will be finalised in the next few days and then I can look forward to doing my best with the club.

“I don’t know if there were other clubs who wanted me because I always wanted to come back to Blackburn. I hope that will be sorted now.”

Benjani scored three league goals for Rovers last season in 18 appearances having been released by Manchester City the previous summer.

Kean said last month: “Benjani has done really well for us.

"The type of lad he is, he is happy to have a role as an impact player as a substitute or if he is in good form and has a run in the team, then I think he has shown he is a guy defenders don't want to play against.

"He certainly had a strong end to the season."