New deal for Douglas

The 22-year-old has impressed Rovers boss Graeme Souness with his performances in the Premiership during the last three months.

And now Souness is keen to tie-up the versatile midfielder on a new deal before he becomes a free agent in the summer.

"I've already told Jon that we will be talking to him about a new deal before the end of the season," said Souness.

"Jon started off here but then did his cruciate ligament in a game against Everton reserves which is a serious injury and a big test for a player.

"But he's a real, solid type and he worked very hard to get himself back again and now he's starting to show us what we always felt he had but I still don't know what his best position is.

"He might be a right-back or a central midfield player but right now he's playing on the left hand side of midfield for us and he's doing a good job there.

"I know Jon is one of those who if I said to him tomorrow at quarter to three that I'd had a change of plan and I wanted him to play in goal he would say 'that's fair enough. Where's the strip?' because he's that type of guy."

Douglas, a product of the club's Youth Academy, has already stated he would jump at the opportunity to extend his stay at Rovers beyond the summer.

The unassuming young Irishman thought his chances of carving out a career in the Premiership had passed him by when he was loaned out to Second Division Blackpool earlier in the season.

At that point, he even returned to Ireland to speak with his family about what to do next.

But then an injury crisis prompted a surprise phone-call from Souness and Douglas hasn't looked back since.

"I never thought I'd get my chance this year," said the midfielder.

"I was loaned out to Blackpool for three months and I went home at Christmas to see my family and speak to them about what was happening and what the future held.

"Then, luckily for me, I got the call from Graeme Souness because of injuries and I've been in the team ever since."

Douglas cites that loan spell at Blackpool as one of the main factors behind his recent resurgence.

The chance to play regular first team football in the Nationwide League helped him mature as a player and now Rovers and Souness are reaping the benefits.

"That spell at Blackpool made me grow up and I learned to appreciate what we have here in terms of the training ground, the players I'm playing with, and just being in the Premiership," said Douglas.

"Blackpool wanted to sign me but I wanted to come back here and have another go and see what happened.

"Luckily, everything then fell into place and I got another chance.

"Now, hopefully, we can sort something out in terms of a new contract and I've already spoken to the manager about it.

"I'd love to stay here because it's a great club with great facilities and I'm playing with a great set of lads."

Douglas's emergence as a Premiership player is all the more remarkable when you consider that he missed the best part of 12 months with a cruciate ligament injury two seasons ago, which was sustained as a result of a challenge by Danny Cadamarteri, who was playing for Everton Reserves at the time.

Now, however, he's dreaming of a possible call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad at some stage in the future.

Although Douglas himself admits that's still some way off a full cap, Ireland boss Brian Kerr must surely have been impressed by the young midfielder's recent form.

"Hopefully, that will come at some stage down the line but right now I'm just concentrating on trying to do well for Blackburn," added Douglas.

"Playing for Ireland is definitely one of my ambitions. That's every young Irish boy's dream."