A STUDENT of football’s school of hard knocks, Keith Andrews will make his long-awaited return to Arsenal this afternoon under no illusions as to how good he has got it.

A League Cup tie at Highbury back in 2003 for Wolves was meant to be start of a career paved with gold, having already made his Premier League debut a few weeks previous, but the 5-1 drubbing was to prove the first of a series of reality checks for the now-hardened midfielder.

Blackburn Rovers’ Irishman always believed he belonged among football’s elite but, after an initially promising six-year spell at Molineux turned sour, his dreams were shattered as he spiralled down the footballing ladder.

A short spell at then-Championship Hull was followed by a drop into the wildnerness of League Two with MK Dons as he was forced to take a long look at where exactly things had gone wrong.

Andrews is now finally back in the big time though and, as he bids to boost Rovers’ survival fight at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon, you won’t find him taking anything for granted in his determination to this time stay at the top.

He said: “I remember that 5-1. I had to man-mark Patrick Viera and the old manager (Paul Ince) had to look after Fabregas when he was about 12.

"The defeat certainly wasn’t my fault, put it that way.

“I have seen all the leagues and even the Championship is nowhere near the Premier League.

"The arenas you go to and the whole euphoria around the Premier League - it is the only place to be playing.

“Those first few months at MK Dons were an eye opener and I think I grew up during that stage.

"Maybe I had been mollycoddled at Wolves a bit.

“When you are at a big club like Wolves, everything is laid on for you and you don’t appreciate what you have.

"I don’t think it was a mistake leaving Wolves because I had become stale there but in terms of getting back to that level it was the best thing I have ever done.”

While Andrews feels at home mixing it with some of the game’s biggest stars, it was only 12 months ago he was running out to face Dagenham and Redbridge - a far cry from the challenge that lies ahead now.

The 28-year-old insists though he has no regrets at the journey he has taken but admits the majority of the Premier League would be stunned to hear a few of his tales about life in the lower leagues.

“The times I had at MK Dons will stay with me for the rest of the career,” he said.

“That first season was quite an eye opener for me.

"Going to the places we were going and it was roll your sleeves up and get on with it.

“I had about seven stitches in my knee in my first game against Hartlepool.

"I couldn’t believe the tackles that were going in and people were getting away with.

“You have to get your own lunch, terrible hotels, travelling on the day. Lower league type stuff.

"MK Dons were relatively better off than a lot at that level but it was nowhere near the level you get here.

“I don’t think the lads would believe me. There are not many who have been around that level.

"I think Jason Roberts came from non-league so he's probably well aware of it but the vast majority would have no idea.

“I am sure the top players don’t have a clue about what is going on in the lower leagues.

"The condition of training grounds etc, but fair play to them if I had the choice I would not choose to sample it.”

Even since former Rovers boss Paul Ince offered Andrews his top-flight summer lifeline, it has been far from plain sailing as he had to convince the Premier League snobs he was not out of his depth.

The doubters still exist although 24 appearances and two goals, including playing in every league game under new boss Sam Allardyce, has gone some way to silencing those critics.

He said: “Possibly I have proved people wrong. I am under no illusions there were a lot of people slightly worried, especially Blackburn fans, that the previous manager would opt to go to League One to buy a player.

“I have to be honest I would be the exact same. If the club I supported was buying players like that then I would not be best pleased. That was never an issue for me though.

“I had to prove to myself that I could play at this level and to the manager that I was more than capable and thankfully I have stayed in the team for the majority of the season.

"If I have proved doubters wrong then so be it.

“This is a fantastic club to be in. Sometimes you have to pinch yourself but you need to keep your feet on the ground.

I don’t think it is that daunting, though.

"At the age I am, I feel I have adapted quite well to it and I really appreciate the chance I have been given.”