FANS’ favourite Craig Conway is on the verge of signing a new contract with Blackburn Rovers.

The winger says it is a case of ‘when not if’ he puts pen to paper on fresh terms.

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And Rovers boss Paul Lambert has confirmed that talks to keep Conway are reaching a conclusion.

That is a huge boost to Lambert who has been immediately impressed by one of the club’s best signings of recent years.

Conway has scored 10 goals and contributed 29 assists in 80 appearances following his £100,000 move from Cardiff City in January 2014.

The 30-year-old believes he has played the best football of his career with Rovers.

And Conway, whose current contract runs out in the summer, is now looking forward to many more years at Ewood Park.

He said: “It’s definitely a case of when not if I’ll sign a new contract.

“I want to stay here, I don’t want to go anywhere else at all.

“I’m really happy here and I’m sure it will be sorted out in the next few days.”

Conway has been a model of consistency since Rovers prised him away from Cardiff on the final day of the 2014 January transfer window.

The Scotland international, who has netted two goals this season and assisted a further five, said: “I am probably playing the best football of my career.

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“But I would have probably said the same at the back of last season – and the season before that as well.

“It’s all started to come together. I’ve had a couple of goals, and I plan to add more to that, so yes, I would say it’s as good as I can remember.

“I’ve had some great spells in my career but this is probably up there with them.”

Conway and his young family have put roots down in Lancashire and he reckons that has helped his performances on the pitch.

“I made the decision when I signed here that I was going to settle down and buy a house,” said the former Ayr United, Dundee United and Brighton & Hove Albion wideman.

“It’s the first time I’ve done that, as before I was moving around different places, and I certainly think that has helped.

“Having a kid definitely has helped as well. I’ve got a little boy and for him to settle, and get him into nursery and things like that, certainly helps.”

Conway is now one of the elder statesmen of the Rovers dressing room.

It is a role his manager and fellow Scot says he performs with distinction.

“Craig’s done great for me, not just on the pitch, but off it he’s been excellent; very, very good,” said Lambert, whose starting line-up in last Saturday’s 2-0 win at Bristol City had an average age of 24.

“He’s performed on the pitch to a really high level. I think he’s playing well and I think he’s enjoying his football.

“But off the pitch I think it’s important to have good characters – and he’s certainly one of those.

“His contract is well down the line. I’m pretty hopeful that’s all going to be okay.”

Lambert also revealed that talks over a new deal for left-back Markus Olsson, who is out of contract in the summer, will soon resume with his representative.

He said: “With Markus I think his man is coming over next week so we’ll see what happens with that.”

Last month Rovers knocked back interest from Championship rivals Derby County for Olsson, the club’s reigning player of the year.