Arnor Sigurdsson has been impressed with what he has seen from his new team-mates and cannot wait to step onto the pitch at Ewood Park for the first time.
The Iceland international arrived in East Lancashire from CSKA Moscow over the summer but had been sidelined by injury over the past couple of months.
Sigurdsson has had to watch from the sidelines as Rovers picked up four points from their opening three Championship matches, as well as beating Walsall in the Carabao Cup opening round.
“I can’t wait,” he told RoversTV. “Just sitting in the stands and watching the team, seeing and feeling the atmosphere from the fans.
“It is amazing and I can’t wait to get out there and feel it from the pitch.
“I have had a bit more time to see how the team plays, how the other players play and how they are thinking, and just getting to know the players from watching them.
“I will know them better when I come onto the pitch and play beside them.”
While he is desperate to return to action, Sigurdsson is wary of coming back too soon and risking further injury.
The 24-year-old knows how demanding Championship football can be and is keen to make sure that he can be relied upon for the rest of the campaign.
“We have got to be careful with this one because it is an injury that came back, it hadn’t healed properly,” the attacker explained.
“It is better to take maybe one extra week to make it heal completely. I’m hoping (to be back) in three weeks when the international break is.
“It is a long season and there are loads of games, so it is better to make sure everything is 100 per cent when I get back going.”
He added: “It is a tough league. The gaffer wants us to play at a high tempo with and without the ball, so I have to be ready to fit in with that.
“I have been in here every day working for three, four or five hours every day. That helps also with the conditioning and my fitness in general.”
Sigurdsson has been back on the grass doing light training as he steps up his recovery and admits it has been a major boost for his morale after a frustrating start to life at Rovers.
“It feels amazing, just putting the boots on again and touching the ball after a tough injury, and especially at the beginning of the season when you want to be involved,” he smiled.
“But I’m doing my best to help the team from the outside. Being back on the pitch, it feels good.
“We have top medical staff and they are doing everything they can to help me. I am working harder than every to come back stronger.”
The Icelander, who scored 15 goals in 26 appearances during a loan spell at IFK Norrkoping last term, is determined to come back stronger and show the Ewood Park faithful what he can do.
“It took me two or three days to take it on the chin, but it is a part of football,” he continued.
“I have just been working hard to come back because I can’t wait to come back, put the shirt on and step onto the pitch.
“I know the fans are excited as well. It has been tough, but it is a part of football and I will come back stronger.”
Sigurdsson has been pleased to see Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side playing on the front foot and trying to be positive since the start of the campaign.
The attacker believes he is a good fit for Tomasson’s style of play and has tried to take in as much information as much as possible while watching from the stands.
“We have been dominant,” he stated. “We have had a lot of possession and created good chances, I think we should be scoring more goals.
“But the players and the coach are doing everything. I love what I am seeing on the pitch and from the stands.”
Moving to a new country comes with plenty of challenges, but Sigurdsson is already enjoying life in England.
He hailed his new team-mates and the Rovers staff for helping him settle in and feel welcome at Ewood Park.
“Everyone has been so nice,” he said. “The players are so friendly and ready to help with everything, and also the staff.
“Everyone at the club has made me feel welcome from day one. I was at the Roverstore with my dad the other day, buying some jerseys.
“All the people were so nice and it was nice to meet them all. I feel like it is a small family, even though it is a massive club. It is a good thing.
“(The support) means a lot, especially when things have been tough like not being able to play.
“Feeling the excitement from the fans and feeling that they can’t wait to see me on the pitch, and I feel the same.
“I can’t wait to show them what I can do to help the team. The fans are such a big part in football, it is why we do it.”
One thing Sigurdsson hasn’t been impressed with is the weather up North, although it is not too different to growing up in Iceland.
However, he is relieved not to have to worry about a language barrier following previous spells in Russia and Italy.
“The best thing is that I can speak to everyone because they speak English,” he grinned.
“In the previous countries I’ve been in, I wasn’t able to speak to everyone properly but here I can communicate with every players, staff member and person on the street.
“Coming from Iceland, I am used to this kind of weather but it has been raining a lot! It has been really good, I am enjoying it and just can’t wait to get started and help the team.”
When asked if he has had chance to explore his new surroundings, Sigurdsson relpied: “Not yet. For now, I am just really focused on my injury – working hard, resting, sleeping, eating and repeat.
“But when I am back playing and we have days off, I will take a look and drive around.”
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