NIKLAS Gudmundsson knows that the real challenge has only just begun, as he aims to build a big future for himself at Ewood Park.

The Swedish international, who did enough during an extended loan period to persuade Blackburn Rovers to buy him from Halmstad, believes that playing in a league he rates as the "quickest and fastest in Europe" can only make him a better player.

And, while he accepts it won't be easy, he is relishing the challenge to prove his worth.

Gudmundsson is confident he can make a successful transition to the hurly-burly of the Premiership.

"I am a Swedish international, so I have to adjust," he said after completing his £750,000 permanent move on a contract which makes him a Rovers player until 1999.

"But I am only 24 and it is my ambition to get into the English system of playing so that I can get better and better.

"And I am willing to work very hard to do it."

Halmstad originally wanted well in excess of £1 million for the highly-rated forward.

But the repercussions of the Bosman case are already being felt and, in the light of the changes, Rovers renegotiated the deal with his club.

Gudmundsson is versatile and can play on the left or off the main striker. The latter seems to be his best position and that is where he made his only Premiership start so far.

The Swede's opportunities during his loan spell were limited but he is prepared to be patient as he battles to establish himself in English football.

Having waited a long time for his chance - he had Anfield trials as a youngster when Kenny Dalglish was in charge of Liverpool - Gudmundsson said: "I am in no hurry and with the contract I have just signed, I will have three good years here at least."

He also knows that competition will be fierce once the Ewood injury crisis starts to ease.

But he has the pedigree to succeed.

Other clubs were believed to have been looking at him during his Rovers loan spell, though Gudmundsson made it clear all along that he wasn't interested.

His priority was to earn a permanent move to Ewood and, with that particular mission accomplished, he now aims to make a success of it.

Tickets for Rovers' next three matches are currently on sale at Ewood, with restrictions for the home games.

For the game against Everton at Ewood tomorrow week, holders of stubs from either Liverpool or Bolton home matches can purchase a maximum of four tickets per stub.

Similarly, holders of stubs from either Everton or Liverpool home games can buy up to four Newcastle (Easter Monday, March 8) tickets per stub.

Season-ticket holders can also buy up to four extra seats for either game on production of their book.

The Newcastle fixture on Easter Monday (8pm kick-off) is an all-ticket game and there will not be any seats available on the day.

Rovers' away game at Southampton on Easter Saturday, April 6, has also been made all-ticket, with no on-day sales and no concessions.

Tickets are £17, with some "restricted views" at £15.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.