BLACKBURN Rovers' hero of the hour, Jonathan Stead, admitted he was over the moon to score on his Premiership debut.

The 20-year-old striker, who joined Rovers in a transfer deadline day deal from Huddersfield Town last week, was thrust straight into the firing line at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

And Graeme Souness's latest signing rewarded his new manager's show of faith by scoring the winning goal as Rovers won for the first time in 2004.

"This is as good as it gets," said Stead, who only knew he was going to start the game on Friday.

"I was hoping to be on the bench but then when I heard I was in the team I was a bit nervous at first but I just said to myself 'deal with it and go out and do your best.'

"I was very pleased with the finish. I was surprised how cool I kept.

"When you think about it before the game you're just thinking if I get a chance, I hope I don't snatch at it.

"But I was calm and I managed to slot it in."

Stead got the nod up front ahead of both Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke and he admitted he was surprised to find himself in the team.

"For the manager to show faith like that in me is a massive thing," said Stead.

"I didn't want to come to a club and end up going from playing very regularly to sitting in the reserves so it's a massive compliment for him to throw me in and I hope I did alright for him.

"I was a bit nervous beforehand but I was a lot better than I thought I would be.

"I thought I'd be very nervous but I was pleased with how I handled it."

Now Stead is hoping to keep his place against Newcastle on Wednesday night but with Yorke and Cole both vying for a return, he knows that nothing is guaranteed.

"Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke are both fantastic players and I know that one game doesn't make me a fantastic player.

"Hopefully, I'll keep my place in the team and get the chance to play against Alan Shearer, who is something else.

"That is something I couldn't have dreamed of, even a couple of months ago."

Meanwhile Souness was delighted with the contributions from both of his front-pair after he plumped for Stead and Paul Gallagher up front.

"Jon Stead has finished what was not an easy chance and I am delighted for him - he has worked hard throughout. It was a difficult chance but he tucked it away and showed that he has an eye for goal.

"I don't think we saw the best of him, because his technique is very good, his touch and control are excellent. But with the pitch being lively and us being a wee bit nervous we were playing it longer than we normally do."