ALEX Baptiste wants to prove he can be a regular in the centre of the Blackburn Rovers defence – after admitting he would be tempted by a permanent stay at Ewood Park.

Baptiste admits he has no idea where his future will lie at the end of his season-long loan from Bolton Wanderers but believes his performances between now and May could be pivotal.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The 29-year-old has often featured at right back since moving to Ewood, after an unhappy campaign in an unfamiliar position on the left side of defence at Bolton.

But Shane Duffy and Grant Hanley both picked up injuries within a day of each other last week, giving Baptiste a surprise chance at centre back at Bournemouth on Saturday.

He took it with both hands as Rovers recorded a clean sheet and he is expected to play in the centre again at Sheffield Wednesday tonight, with Duffy out for the season and Hanley still sidelined as he faces a race against time to feature in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter final at Liverpool.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer has admitted he is considering entering the loan market to bolster his depleted defence but Baptiste wants to show he can be a regular at centre back – and secure his future in the process.

He said: “It’s a massive opportunity because I don’t know what’s going to happen next season and I want to be able to play centre half, so it’s up to me to prove to Blackburn that I can do.

“I played a few games at centre half at the beginning of the season and then moved about.

“But I feel that’s my best position and it’s up to me to prove to everyone that it’s my best position.

“It’s the position I feel most comfortable in. I played there for 10 years from Mansfield, and in all my time at Blackpool I was a centre half until the last six months of my contract when the right back got injured and I did okay there.

“At Bolton I played predominately as a left back. I can do a job at right back and left back.

“But if I was to pick myself anywhere I’d play centre half.”

Baptiste admits he has found himself in uncharted territory this season on a season-long loan. Previously his only loan spells were to gain experience as a youngster with Tamworth and Burton.

Dougie Freedman was Bolton’s manager when he was loaned to Blackburn, having fallen down the pecking order after a nightmare first season at the Macron Stadium.

Neil Lennon has since replaced Freedman, but Baptiste does not yet know whether he will be wanted by the new Bolton boss for next season.

As things stand Rovers would not be able to sign Baptiste permanently in the summer unless they have their transfer embargo lifted or Bolton released the defender from his contract.

But Baptiste says the chance to stay at Rovers would be tempting.

“Yes, definitely,” he said.

“I’ve got another year left at Bolton and I don’t know what their situation with me is, I haven’t spoken to anyone or anything like that.

"Obviously the manager took over at Bolton and had a difficult job where they were in the league and they’ve done really well.

“They’re my parent club so I imagine at the end of the season I’ll see what my agent says and maybe meet the manager.

“But I don’t know what’s going to happen, I’ve never been in this situation before. I’ve never been on loan like this before, so I don’t know what the script is.

“I just need to play the best I can for Blackburn Rovers.

“I’m at a really good club and I’m enjoying it here. The manager, the staff, the players and the fans have been absolutely fantastic, considering where I was when I came here.

“I was a bit low on confidence and the fans, the manager and everyone have taken me in and made me fall in love with football again.

“I’d like to thank them for that.”