BLACKBURN Rovers’ reigning player of the year Markus Olsson has revealed that he has opened contract talks with the club.

Olsson, who last month was named the Northwest Championship player of the year, is one of 11 first-team Rovers players out of contract next summer.

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But, having previously stated that discussions over a new deal had not started, the left-back admits there have been preliminary negotiations.

And Olsson has insisted that he will not let any speculation over his future affect his performance on the pitch.

It is understood that Rovers rejected an approach from high-flying league rivals Derby County for the 27-year-old.

Olsson, who is set to enter his fifth year at Ewood Park, said: “We have a spoken a little bit (about a new contract).

“It hasn’t come very far yet but there have been talks.

“I like it here at Blackburn and if Blackburn show they want to keep me, I will always listen to what they have to say.

“There will always be speculation and there will be interest, as well, but right now I’m under contract and I’m not the type of person who says I want to leave. That’s not me.”

Olsson was speaking after Rovers’ 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday in Paul Lambert’s first home game in charge.

The result extended the Ewood Park outfit’s unbeaten run to five matches and made it four points out of a possible six under their new manager.

Olsson said: “We conceded two scrappy goals. We tried to keep hold of our lead but in the end we got a draw.

“It’s not bad, of course, but we wanted more.

“But we’re one point closer to the play-offs and, if we can get on a run, we can be in and around there.

“But we know we’ve got to catch up.”

Rovers have cut the gap to the top six by four points since Lambert took over from Gary Bowyer.

Olsson says he and his team-mates are enjoying working with a boss who won back-to-back promotions to the Premier League with Norwich City before moving to Aston Villa.

Olsson said: “He’s come in and got the boys on his side.

“In training he wants every player to put in hard work. That’s what we’ve been doing in training – very hard work, very high in intensity.

“Everyone has caught up to it and everyone knows how he wants to play. And it will only be one way. That’s how it is.

“No matter who we play, and whether we play home or away, we will play the same. And that’s good. It doesn’t mess with our heads. We know exactly what he wants. Now it’s trying to get it out on to the pitch.

“He knows what it’s about. He’s been there, he’s had promotions, he’s been at the top level. Everything he tells us and everything he wants to teach us, we have to take in.

“If he says something, we will do it, and nobody will complain.”

Teenage Rovers midfielder Lewis Hardcastle, meanwhile, has had his loan at Salford City extended until Christmas Eve.

And the 17-year-old has been granted permission to play in giant-killing Salford’s FA Cup second-round tie at home to Hartlepool United on Friday night.