DANNY Graham says he never had any intention of leaving Rovers this summer and is itching to win a place back in the starting XI.

Graham was linked with a move away from Ewood Park ahead of transfer deadline day, but the 32-year-old says his sole aim is to rectify last season’s relegation by helping the club win promotion to the Championship.

Last season’s joint top scorer was left out of the side after Rovers began the season with back-to-back defeats, something he admits manager Tony Mowbray was well within his rights to do.

But after appearances off the bench in Rovers’ last three outings, Graham is eyeing a return to the starting line-up at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

 “I have never once spoken to the gaffer about leaving and he has never once pulled me in and said he wanted me to go,” the experienced frontman said. “That’s never been the case. I always saw my future here.

“We were disappointed last year and I wanted to put it right personally along with the boys who were here and got relegated.

“We have brought new players in who are going to help us along the way and I’m ready and waiting and the only focus I have, and the boys have, is on making sure we get promoted.

“It’s going to be a massive squad effort throughout the season and I stand here now itching to be playing and doing well for Blackburn Rovers.”

Graham came in to the season having netted five goals in six pre-season friendlies, but has seen Dominic Samuel and Marcus Antonsson preferred in attack in recent weeks.

The striker, along with midfielder Peter Whittingham, were two high profile casualties of Rovers’ poor start to the League One campaign, but Graham admits Rovers manager Tony Mowbray was well within his rights to make the change.

“The gaffer changed it after the first two games and rightly so,” he added.

“Me and Whitts came out of the team, the manager had his reasons, and the boys won four in a row.

“I was disappointed not to be playing but also delighted that the boys had been picking up results and doing well.

“The first two games (of the season) weren’t good enough, from all of us, and myself.

“I hold my hands up when I don’t play well and I can comfortably say that and he (Mowbray) was right to change it.

“I’m just dying to get back in there and if I get the call Saturday or Tuesday then I’ll be ready and wanting to do as well as I can for the team.”

Graham has been part of a strong Rovers bench in recent weeks which has contained the likes of Whittingham, Bradley Dack, Ben Gladwin and Harry Chapman.

And having opened his account in the 3-0 win at Rochdale on September 9, he is hoping to win back his starting place at the Montgomery Waters Meadow this weekend.

“I am dying to get back out there,” Graham said speaking at Blackburn Youth Zone as part the club’s link with the community facility

“If you look at our bench I would say it’s by far one of the strongest in League One.

“To have that can only fill everyone with confidence.

“It will take everyone to get promoted, it’s not about me not playing the last four games, or whoever, there are no egos in this dressing room, we all want to do well, whoever is playing.

“That’s the most important thing.”