New Blackburn Rovers signing Billy Koumetio is relishing the opportunity to experience a first-team environment.

The defender has signed on loan from Liverpool and will provide cover at centre-back and full-back. Despite signing Connor O'Riordan and Kyle McFadzean, Rovers moved to add a third defender in January to cover for Hayden Carter's injury.

Koumetio has experienced two previous loan spells but this is by far the biggest challenge of his young career. The Reds loanee has spoken about his desire to learn, whether that be on or off the pitch.

“It’s a very good feeling and, with the lads I know who have played here before, I know about the great experience they had at the club,” he told RoversTV.

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“It’s a great club, I can’t wait to start and have good experiences with the team.

“While Tyler was playing, I’d send him messages and you could see how happy he was. When he came back, we had some chats and I was really happy to see how happy he was for himself and for both clubs.

“I know that this is a very good opportunity and there’s something I can improve on and add for my career on a daily basis.

“It could be mentally, it could be in games, but there’s always something I can take if I give everything I can. This is a good step for my career. This is senior football and we know how intense it is and how big it is.

“It can be about how you react after games, how you prepare before games. We’ve all prepared because we’ve come through the academy systems when we were younger, but this is the chance to step into the senior game and this is the battle, this is real life.

“There will be more focus than ever before to improve and learn, which will help me become even better and to help the team.

“It’s a big step, I’m aware of that. We learn a lot in the academy system and there’s a lot of investment put into the lads, but now is the chance to really see the input from all those years and bring things out to show your value to the team, because this isn’t an individual sport.

“It’s a big move and it’s exciting because it’s a challenge, and I like challenges! I’m calm and confident regarding my qualities. I’ll give everything I have for the club to profit, the team to profit, that’s the mindset I have.

"I went to Austria and now I'm in the Championship. I believe that it's a big challenge, every game is a good game. Whether you play the first team or the last, there is no easy game.

"This is a big challenge to see how I am on the pitch and the mentality I have. It's something I will see. It's a good test for me."

Koumetio will offer Jon Dhal Tomasson flexibility at the back. The 21-year-old is comfortable playing left-back or on that side of a three-man defence.

Rovers have lost Harry Pickering to injury and he'll be absent for a month. Scott Wharton is the only other left-sided defender they have, with Ben Chrisene capable at left-back or wing-back.

"I like to head the ball, I love it! I love that, every challenge in the air is for me, not for anyone else," he laughed.

"I will go for it, if it's in the air, in defence, halfway line, attacking third, it is mine.

"I have played centre-back for years, I can use my right foot or left. I can play any position at centre-back.

"In France, I played left-back there, that was where I played most of the games. I played on the left side of a back three too. This is a position I can play, 100 per cent."