MARKUS Olsson has revealed his desire to make one position his own was the catalyst behind his remarkable rise from bit-player to Blackburn Rovers’ newly crowned player of the year.

Olsson filled a variety of roles down Rovers’ left-hand side in his first two-and-a-half years at the club.

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But after being given the chance to deputise for Tommy Spurr in the final three games of last season he made it clear he wanted to be considered primarily as a left-back.

And it is a decision that has paid dividends with Olsson being voted by supporters as the unanimous winner of Rovers’ 2014-15 player of the year award.

“In previous years and seasons if I’ve played well for a few games in one position I’d go back again to another,” said Olsson, who was presented with his prize before Saturday’s final-match 3-2 home win over Ipswich Town.

“There was no consistency and I wouldn’t know myself either where to play or how I should play.

“But last season, when I got a chance, I talked to the manager and told him, ‘that’s the position I want to compete for and, if I’m on the bench, I’m on the bench’.

“That was the main thing for me, to let the manager know I want to play in one position, so I could compete there and develop as a player, both for myself and for the club’s benefit.

“Now I’ve done close to 50 games there and I think I’ve been consistent in many games. Of course I can’t be flawless in every game and there will be mistakes.

“But I’ve always tried to improve on what I’ve done well and improve on what I’ve not done so well and take it into the next game. That has been my thinking all season.”

Olsson beat Rudy Gestede, into second, and Craig Conway, into third, to be named Rovers’ top performer this season.

The 26-year-old follows in the footsteps of the likes of Tom Cairney, who won last year’s award, Roque Santa Cruz and Craig Bellamy.

And Olsson said: “It means a lot. I’m very, very proud and honoured to get it.

“To win it at a club like Blackburn and seeing some of the names that have won it before makes it very special.”

After being restricted to just nine appearances in the 2013-14 campaign, mainly due to Spurr’s fine form, Olsson’s future was in limbo last summer.

But Rovers boss Bowyer fought hard to convince the Ewood Park powers to be to hand the Sweden international a new one-year deal.

And, with Spurr sidelined, Olsson repaid his manager’s faith and in January was rewarded with a contract extension tying him to the club until the summer of 2016.

“When I came back and signed a new contract here, I said to myself in pre-season, ‘now I’m not going to come back to be a squad player’,” said Olsson.

“I wanted to show myself to the manager, like I did at the end of last season, and keep on going.

“I didn’t think about any personal achievements, my main focus was to do well and be in the team.

“The manager has shown a lot of confidence in me and that means a lot as it makes me perform every week.”

Reports in the Norwegian media claiming striker Josh King has signed a new three-year deal with Rovers, meanwhile, are wide of the mark.

The club remain in contract talks with King who will be a free agent in the summer.