STEPHEN Warnock has tipped Rovers’ Martin Olsson to become one of the Premier League’s best, claiming he has similar attributes to some of the game’s top attacking left backs.

The Swedish Under-21 international gifted Spurs their winning goal on Sunday before being sent off for several desperate tackles on Aaron FROM BACK PAGE Lennon – but Warnock insists he still has huge potential.

Olsson, 20, has burst onto the first-team scene at Ewood Park this campaign after signing from Hogaborgs BK in January 2006 and has become a squad regular with eight starts already this campaign.

His form has enabled Warnock to push forward into an injury-hit midfield and Rovers’ England man expects Olsson to become a household name at Ewood Park over the next few seasons.

Warnock said: “Martin Olsson is more than capable of playing in there. A lot of people see him as the left back at this club for years to come and I see him as that myself.

“Because I think he is a fantastic player and he is a lot younger than I was when I broke through.

“He comes to me and asks for advice and I am more than happy to give him it because I believe he will be one of the best left backs in the Premier League.

“I think he understands that he is capable of going forward. The side he is learning quickly is the defensive side, when to go forward and when not. That is what Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy do so well.”

After signing a new four-year-deal in May, Warnock insists Olsson’s emergence has surprised no-one this campaign and believes the young defender has plenty more to come.

Warnock is expected to return to left back for Sunday’s trip to Portsmouth, with Olsson suspended, but the Scouser predicts ‘with a bit of mental toughness’ his team mate can only learn from the Spurs experience.

He said: “Ask all the lads in the squad it was not a surprise seeing him break into the first team.

“We all knew he was capable he just needs the confidence. As a young player it is sometimes difficult to get that.

“He is going to make mistakes and there will be times on the pitch when he is caught out and a goal goes against us, but he just has to be big enough to learn from that, “He will make mistakes and people will criticise him it is how good he is at dealing with that criticism.”

Meanwhile the devastated Swede has revealed how his White Hart Lane dismissal saw him taking out his frustration on anything in his way in the away dressing room.

Olsson was run ragged by an inspired Aaron Lennon forcing him into two bookings and a subsequent red card after just 38 minutes,” said Olsson. “I was kicking everything I could lay my eyes on – doors, bins, cardboard boxes. I don’t know what was broken and what wasn’t.

“My team-mates supported me. They said: ‘You are only 20, take it easy, we have had experiences like that.’ "Paul Ince said it was better that I showed my feelings rather than not doing anything at all.”