BLACKBURN Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel has described Mark Hughes's first month in the Ewood hot-seat as a 'breath of fresh air'.
Hughes was officially installed as Graeme Souness's successor a month ago today and Friedel believes the forward-thinking Welshman has already started to make his mark by revolutionising the way the team is prepared on and off the field.
The United States international felt things had started to go 'stale' during the latter stages of the Souness era.
But Hughes's arrival has reignited the squad's passion to succeed and Friedel believes the club can now look forward to a brighter future under the new manager, who relinquished his post with Wales earlier this week to concentrate on the job of managing Rovers full-time.
"I think things had got a touch stale here, as people could probably tell by the way we were playing," admitted Friedel.
"I'm not trying to slate Graeme Souness at all because he had a fantastic time here as a manager.
"Graeme was here five seasons and in today's game that's a long time as a manager.
"He brought the club a trophy in the shape of the Worthington Cup and he got us promotion and a place in Europe, so I don't think anyone can complain at the contribution he made.
"But this is a different era now and it's a young, exciting ambitious era which all the players and fans are ready to embrace.
"There's a buzz about the place and once everyone adapts to the way the new manager wants us to play football then I think you'll see us marching up the table."
Hughes spent much of his first month in charge juggling two jobs, as he balanced his commitments with Wales and those at Ewood.
But now the 40-year-old is free to concentrate solely on the challenge of reviving Rovers' fortunes so tomorrow's home game against Middlesbrough marks the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
Hughes has wasted little time in changing the way things are done at his new club.
Forward-thinking coaches like Mark Bowen, Eddie Niedzwiecki and Kevin Hitchcock have been drafted in to form a new-look backroom team.
And Hughes is also a firm believer in the benefits of sports science so ice-baths and ProZone are now part of the new weekly routine at Ewood.
"Everything has changed," said Friedel.
"Their methods of training and their philosophy on the game is a lot different from Graeme's and I think it's a philosophy that the players really need to be up for and switched on to.
"Fitness levels and mental levels have to be raised to adapt to the way that Mark is trying to do his coaching so it's going to be interesting to see how everyone adapts.
"If we can make that adjustment really quickly then I can see us having a very good season.
"If it takes a little bit longer, which it might do, then we'll still have a very solid season.
"But I don't see us going anywhere but up from where we are."
In the meantime, Hughes will assess the condition of Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton in training today before deciding whether both will start against Middlesbrough tomorrow.
The duo have only just returned from Australia where they were in Confederations Cup action for their country earlier this week.
Barry Ferguson is also hoping to be fit despite struggling with a hamstring injury in the build-up to Scotland's game with Moldova.
But Craig Short, David Thompson, Andy Todd and Steven Reid are not expected to be involved against Boro as Rovers look to extend their unbeaten home record to eight games.
Boro have a decent record at Ewood, having won one and drawn three of their last five visits.
But Steve McClaren's side have picked up just one point from the last possible nine and they have only scored one goal in five hours and 12 minutes of Premiership football.
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