STEWART Downing says his relationship with manager Tony Mowbray was a big factor in his Rovers return.

The experienced midfielder has re-signed for a second spell at Ewood Park on the eve of tomorrow night's game with old club Middlesbrough.

And although it is unlikely he will feature as he builds up his match fitness, having not kicked a competitive ball since mid-July, the 36-year-old is delighted to be back.

"I always wanted to come back since the last game of last season and told the manager that," said Downing, who admitted retirement would have been on the cards had Rovers not been an option.

"I said that if it wasn’t to be here then I’d probably have stopped playing and would have looked into something new.

"I had a really good time here last season, I really enjoyed it.

"The lads were great, the manager was good to me and we had a really good relationship, which was probably why he got so many games out of me."

Downing started 38 of Rovers’ 46 league games last season before leaving at the end of his contract as Mowbray explored areas of the pitch which needed greater attention.

But, if there was still room in the budget after all targets had been secured, Mowbray always had a reunion in mind.

And Downing is set to see out his career at Ewood.

"I just got a really good feel for the club, I was settled and this was the only place I wanted to come back to," said the former Liverpool and West Ham United man.

"I wanted to enjoy the last few years of football and I certainly enjoyed last season, so much so that I wanted to come back and extend it.

"The team looks very strong when everyone’s fully fit and available, so I’m really excited about it."

And Downing revealed how pleased he is to be working with Mowbray again.

"I mentioned when I first signed here that I was down in the dumps after not playing much towards the end of my time at Middlesbrough," he explained.

"I massively want to repay that faith from the manager and not just for this season either.

"I think maybe when I first signed there were a few eyebrows raised with me being 35 or 36 at the time. There would have been questions surrounding what I’d bring to the party because I wasn’t the 25-year-old winger that I used to be.

"I think I proved that I’m fit, I can get through the games and I can do a job.

"The relationship with the manager was a big thing for me last season and was a big reason why I wanted this deal to happen."