MORTEN Gamst Pedersen is set to give Manchester United even more reason to rue not plucking him from Norwegian football.

It was Blackburn Rovers who eventually took the plunge in the summer of 2004 when they brought the exciting 22-year-old prospect to the Premiership.

Pedersen has since revealed that a number of English clubs were tracking his progress - including United - and he's more than made them pay for not taking a gamble on him.

The stunning equaliser in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final at Ewood was Pedersen's third goal in two games against the Red Devils this season after his league double gave Rovers three points at Old Trafford in September.

If he can repeat the dose tomorrow and send Blackburn into the final he'll have even more reason to be pleased with choosing Lancashire.

"There was talk about Manchester United being interested, but there was a lot of talk and a lot of clubs," said Pedersen.

"I felt Blackburn was the one that really wanted me. I talked to a few players and decided it was a good choice.

"I came, had one training session and one game before going back to link up with the international squad.

"Then I had a phone call and someone said 'did I know my club hadn't got a manager any more?'"

The call was informing Pedersen of the departure of Graeme Souness, who was bound for Newcastle after giving his new signing just one appearance - ironically, against Manchester United.

Souness is now hanging on grimly to his job at St James' Park following Blackburn's 1-0 win there on Saturday, thanks to Pedersen's controversial winner.

But it was Souness' previous departure that had more significance for the Norwegian, who, once he had got over the initial shock, was soon flourishing under new manager Mark Hughes.

Pedersen said: "When I got the call I just said okay and started laughing. I was just lying in bed laughing.

"Welcome to English football, it's going to be fun. It felt like a complete joke, but it has worked out all right.

"I'm playing more regularly now, but it was hard being out of the team when I first came over.

"Mark Hughes made sure I never felt like an outcast, he encouraged me by setting me goals and telling me what he wanted me to do, but even though I worked hard and made sure I stayed positive I could not be completely happy while I was not playing.

"I got messages of support at that time from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and John Arne Riise, and that helped. It was good for me to know I had friends in England.

"It just made me more determined to seize my chance when it came, and that's what I have done."