GORDON Greer has expressed his delight at rejoining Blackburn Rovers – 15 years after first arriving at Ewood Park.

The veteran centre-back today put pen to paper on a one-year contract with the club where he started his English football career after impressing Rovers boss Owen Coyle during a trial spell.

But Coyle opted against offering a permanent deal to young striker Faissal El Bakhtaoui who has now signed for Dundee.

Greer first joined Rovers in 2001 when then manager Graeme Souness paid £250,000 Clyde for his services.

The Scotland international made just one appearance in the blue and white halves before heading back to his homeland with Kilmarnock.

From there he joined Doncaster, Swindon Town and then Brighton & Hove Albion, who he captained to the League One title in 2011-12 and then into the Championship play-offs in 2013, 2014 and earlier this year.

Now Greer, who was released by Brighton after six years of service in May, has almost gone full circle.

And the 35-year-old, who came recommended to Coyle by Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, said: “I’m delighted to be back, I really enjoyed my time here when I was younger.

“I never played too many games but I learned a lot from some really good professionals so hopefully I’ll play a few more games and give back to the young ones that are here now.

“I’m motivated and I’m fit, I know I’m not going to play football forever so I want to enjoy every minute of it.

“There’s a few people still here that were here when I was younger so it was great to catch up with them.

“Obviously there are loads of new people to get to know as well so it has been great, everybody has been really welcoming and I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far.

“It is a fantastic club and hopefully we can give the fans something to cheer about this year.

“It is a tough league and there’s loads of good teams so it will be a very interesting season, but it is one that we are all looking forward to.”

Coyle had also been running the rule over El Bakhtaoui in pre-season as he seeks cover and competition for Danny Graham and Anthony Stokes.

But he chose not to offer the 23-year-old terms as he does not feel he is ready for the Championship.

However Coyle will keep an eye on El Bakhtaoui whose return of 30 goals in 41 games for Dunfermline Athletic in Scottish League One last season has led to him signing for higher-league Dundee.

The French-born forward today penned a three-year deal with the Scottish Premiership outfit, who are managed by Coyle’s friend Paul Hartley.

Former Manchester and England defender Wes Brown, meanwhile, remains at Rovers.

But a calf injury sustained in the pre-season training camp in Austria prevented him from playing a minute of pre-season.