MATT Jansen today backed Jay Bothroyd to be a success at Blackburn Rovers - even though his arrival at Ewood could block his own path back into the first team.

Jansen knows all about Bothroyd's qualities after he played up front with the 22-year-old during a loan spell at Coventry City two years ago.

And the Ewood favourite firmly believes Rovers' latest addition has the talent to be a hit with the Blackburn End, providing Graeme Souness manages to tame his maverick tendencies.

"He's certainly a handful," said Jansen. "He's a young lad who'll cause problems for defenders.

"Jay is a confidence player so if he does well as soon as he comes in then I'm sure he will build on that.

"He's quite technical, he likes to take people on, he likes to showboat a little bit, and he's a big, strong lad.

"So he'll definitely be used and I can see him doing a job in the Premiership."

Bothroyd has had something of a chequered career since he first broke onto the scene as a teenager at Arsenal.

He was part of the Gunners' FA Youth Cup-winning side of 2000 and many were hailing him as a potential first team star of the future.

But then a bust-up with Don Howe led to him leaving Highbury under a cloud and he ended up joining Coventry later that summer for £1 million.

He earned many plaudits during his time at Highfield Road, and although some found his languid style frustrating, in 57 starts he bagged 17 goals before leaving to join Serie A side Perugia on a free transfer last summer.

His one season in Italy can be described as colourful, if not particularly prolific.

A goal on his Serie A debut against Sienna pointed to greater things ahead but Bothroyd only managed three more during the rest of the campaign and he later lost his place to Fabrizio Ravanelli, who had arrived from Dundee in January.

Now Rovers have offered the Londoner a route back to the Premiership and Souness is confident he can harness the talents of a player who has yet to reach his full potential.

He arrives at Ewood with a reputation for being feisty but those who know him say he's a naturally gifted footballer with the ability to be a matchwinner.

"We're taking a chance on a young boy who people thought a great deal of when he was in this country before," said Souness. "He wasn't without his problems but he then went to Italy and did well over there.

"My contacts in the game tell me he has great quality and it's my job to make him a consistent performer."

Bothroyd's arrival has left further question marks in regard to Jansen's long-term future at the club.

Earlier this week, the 26-year-old turned down a move to Celta Vigo but Jansen admits he may consider his future again if he doesn't break into the first team between now and January's transfer window.

"I got a call from Tony Parkes on Monday to say that Celta Vigo were in for me and I was told to ring Willy McKay (an agent) but I couldn't get hold of him so it ended up petering out," said the Rovers striker.

"At the end of the day, things change quickly in football so I'll bide my time and if in January things are still the same then I'll maybe have to say 'I've got to go' and try and re-launch my career elsewhere.

"In the meantime, all I can do is keep working hard and we'll see what happens.

"If I'm playing well enough then I hope I'll get my chance. If there's injuries or suspensions, I might get a sniff so who knows what might happen?"