JOHN O’Sullivan is determined to break into Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Lambert’s starting line-up after signing a one-year contract extension with the club.

O’Sullivan, whose previous deal was set to run out in the summer, last night put pen to paper on fresh terms tying him to the club until June 2017.

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The 22-year-old has made six first-team appearances since rising through the Rovers ranks and now he has sets his sight on making more under the new Rovers manager.

“I’m looking forward to working with the new manager now, he has ideas that suit me so hopefully he’ll give me a chance in the long run,” said O’Sullivan, who missed out on place in Lambert’s first matchday squad for the 2-1 triumph at Preston North End on Saturday.

“The training has been tough, but it has been different, and the tempo of training has been outstanding.

“I think we needed that just a little bit to give us the lift that we needed.

“I think on Saturday we showed a lot more work-rate than we had previously because of the week’s training we had with the new gaffer.

“It has been tough, but it has been very good.

“My job now is to make it difficult for him to leave me out of the team.

“I have that comfort now that I have a bit of time to show him what kind of player I am, and hopefully he likes me and gives me a chance.”

O’Sullivan made his Rovers debut in the final game of the 2012-13 season before going on to enjoy successful loan spells in the National League, League Two and League One with Southport, Accrington Stanley and Barnsley respectively.

The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has attracted fresh loan interest this season.

But O’Sullivan, who has made one start and two substitute appearances for Rovers in the current campaign, is desperate to mark his mark at the club he joined as a teenager.

He said: “Blackburn is like home to me as I’ve been here since I was 15.

“So I’m just happy it is all done now and I can get my head down and concentrate on my football.

"We were talking about the new deal before the new manager came in, so it is a bit of a confidence booster as he could have said no.

“So hopefully he sees a bit of potential in me.”