BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Barry Ferguson today said he's got a hard act to follow after taking over the captaincy from ousted skipper Garry Flitcroft.

Ferguson has admitted he was surprised to be given the armband by Rovers boss Graeme Souness earlier this summer.

But the invitation to lead Rovers in the Premiership was an offer he simply couldn't turn down, even though it came totally out of the blue.

Ferguson has previous experience of the role, having captained both Scotland and Rangers in the past.

Now he's relishing the opportunity to do a similar job for Rovers and the extra responsibility that goes with it.

"If I'm being honest, I've got to say I was surprised when the manager told me but I couldn't knock it back," said Ferguson.

"Flitty did a great job when he was captain, so I've got a hard act to follow but hopefully I can do as well as he did.

"I've captained Rangers and Scotland before and it's something I enjoy.

"It may take me a wee while to get into it but I'm looking forward to it.

"The players have been good with me so far. I've had the usual slagging and the rest of the banter that goes with it but it's been fine."

Ferguson has already settled into his new role after leading the team to victory in the final of the SSV Reutlingen tournament on Tuesday night, albeit after a penalty shoot-out.

Rovers have now played three games in five days in Germany and though the standard of the opposition has been nothing to write home about, Ferguson has appreciated the chance to get some matches under his belt following six months out with a broken kneecap.

"Whenever you come away on trips like this the games are never the best in terms of standard," said the Rovers skipper.

"It's all about getting match fitness at this stage and I'm probably about 75 per cent fit.

"I probably still need another four or five games before I can say I'm fully match fit.

"I've struggled a bit with the heat over here. When I knew we were coming to Germany I thought the weather would be similar to what it is in Blackburn.

"But you gain a lot more fitness when you're training and playing in conditions like this so it's a case of so far, so good."

Ferguson has not held back in the two games he's played so far, either.

After a serious knee injury like the one he had, you could understand if he was tentative in the tackle during the initial stages of his comeback.

However, the former Rangers star has been throwing himself into challenges with all his usual gusto and at one stage he even had to be told to calm down in a training session earlier this week.

"I went for a couple of tackles in the game the other night but that's not something that's played on my mind," added Ferguson.

"I'm not bothered about it. You've got to think positively."

Now both Ferguson and David Thompson will look to step up their comebacks with another taste of action against Bohemians Prague in Ulm tonight - Rovers' final match of this 10-day tour.