BLACKBURN Rovers boss Owen Coyle has expressed his delight after completing the signing of former Manchester United and England defender Wes Brown on a permanent contract.

Free agent Brown yesterday put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the campaign which will also see him spend time with Damien Johnson and David Dunn coaching the club’s under-23s.

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The 36-year-old, who wants to go into coaching once his decorated career comes to an end, has been training with Rovers since his release from Sunderland in the summer.

Brown picked up a calf injury during the club’s pre-season training camp in Austria.

But the 23-capped international is now back to full fitness after playing three successive matches for Rovers Under-23s who are managed by Johnson and Dunn.

Coyle believes Brown, who won 16 major honours with United including five Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues, will prove to be a ‘leader’ on and off the pitch.

He said: “I’m delighted. We know his qualities as a player and the level he’s played at. His pedigree is there for everyone to see.

“He’s very humble as well but he knows how to win games. He’s a real leader and he’ll drive other people on so I think it’s a great signing for the football club.

“He’s trained really hard to get himself in good shape and long may that continue. When he’s fully fit, he’s a very, very good player and that helps Blackburn Rovers, which is what we’re all here to do.

“He’s been so easy to deal with. He just wanted to play and that was always his focus – being fit to play – and all credit to him.

“This is a player who was coming in for training, not signed, but was there at all the games wishing the boys well and encouraging them, and that speaks volumes for how he is as a man.”

Brown is expected to go straight into the Rovers squad for this Saturday’s trip to fellow strugglers Derby County.

Coyle could be without five first-team defenders for the iPro Stadium clash.

Charlie Mulgrew, Elliott Ward and Adam Henley are definitely sidelined, Gordon Greer picked up a knock in last Saturday’s 4-2 home win over Rotherham United, while Scott Wharton came off with a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s 1-0 EFL Cup loss at Leeds United.

“Wes has been training the last four or five weeks, he’s played a number of times with the under-23s in the Premier League 2 and he’s been great helping the young players,” added Coyle, who was forced to play 18-year-old right-back Ryan Nyambe alongside midfielder Darragh Lenihan at centre-back against Leeds after Wharton’s early withdrawal.

“I now think he’s got himself in a position where he’s ready to play games at first-team level. Added to that, he will be able to do some coaching, helping some of the young kids.

“We’ve already got two outstanding young coaches in Damien Johnson and David Dunn, who take the under-23 squad, and Wes will be able to impart some knowledge to the young players and help them as we go as well.

“He’s done his coaching badges and it helps him to do that whilst he’s still playing, but the main focus is he’s here to play, because I think he can certainly contribute to the team and help us.”