MEET Stig Inge Bjornebye - Liverpool's "other" major import from overseas.

All the talk has been of the impact that Czech international Patrick Berger has made since his £3 million move from Borussia Dortmund.

And life-long Liverpool fan Berger was indeed impressive as he settled into the hurly burly of the Premiership in a blaze of glory and goals.

Those close to Liverpool readily acknowledge that his cavalier skills and power shooting were always likely to bring him instant acclaim from the Kop.

But the re-emergence of Bjornebye has done just as much, abeit in a less spectacular vein, to enourage Merseyside hopes that the championship really is a realistic proposition this season.

The talk at Anfield all summer long was that Liverpool were desperately seeking to sign a left-sided player to occupy the hard-running wing-back role, a complement to Jason McAteer on the right. But Bjornebye came out of the shadows, started the opening match at Middlesbrough, scored and has gone on to cement his place in the side. In the process, he has probably saved the club a couple of million pounds for a replacement.

"There's no talk about signing someone for that role now," said one regular commentator on the club.

"No-one gave Stig a chance of doing what he has done but he has benefited from the manager's confidence and from regaining full fitness."

It has been a long haul back for the Norwegian, who comes up against international colleagues Henning Berg and Lars Bohinen when the teams clash at Ewood tomorrow.

Signed from Rosenborg for £600,000 in December 1992, his senior appearances had been limited and a broken leg in April 1995 could have been the last straw.

Only two appearances followed last season but that first goal for Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium seems to have helped spark a transformation.

"Last season was a big disappointment for me and so many people were telling me I had to go elsewhere," he said.

"You always have to look at the opportunities you might have. There were periods last season when I was miles away from the first team and I had to have a look at things, look around and see what chances there were for me. "But my main goal was always to stay here and do well. I didn't want to move from this place - after all, where do you go from Liverpool?

"I've always had a good relationship with Roy (Evans). We're both serious about it and talked about things sensibly.

"Now I've got the chance to show a few people what I can do, to make an impact here at Liverpool, and I want to go for that."

Bjornebye has made a major contribution to Liverpool's success, based on their now well-known formation of three central defenders with the Norwegian and McAteer doing the graft up and down the flanks.

As well as scoring on the opening day, he also grabbed the first of Liverpool's European Cup Winners' Cup campaign and anticipated a few goal celebrations during the course of the season.

"I'm stronger this season, I can run a bit more and that'll give me the chance to get in the box a bit more. I think I'll get a few," he added with the sort of confidence that Rovers have been lacking. Ten years ago Liverpool paraded a team in the FA Cup final without a single English representative.

Times have changed.

English internationals past, present and future in the shape of John Barnes, Steve McManaman and Dominic Matteo, and others, now dominate a talented squad.

But there's always room for outside influences at such a cosmopolitan club.

And Bjornebye has shown it doesn't always have to come from the big names like Berger.

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