FORMER Blackburn Rovers striker Shefki Kuqi admitted he was shocked to be shown the door at Ewood Park.

The Finnish forward signed a three-year deal with Championship side Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day. The Londoners paid a £2.5m fee.

But he revealed the news that he was being sold was completely unexpected.

He said: "In one way, I was surprised when I heard Blackburn were allowing me to leave.

"Palace had been chasing me for a long time, but Blackburn had said consistently that they didn't want to sell me, but then they changed their mind."

And Kuqi, who scored seven goals in 15 starts, said he would have been happy to stay and fight for his place despite the arrival of strikers Francis Jeffers, Jason Roberts, Benni McCarthy and Shabani Nonda.

But he was looking forward to life at Selhurst Park and a quick return back to the Premiership.

He added: "I never thought I had to leave when Blackburn signed Benni McCarthy. I never worry about who else is in the squad because I always believe in myself.

"I believe I will be back in the Championship for one season only."

Mark Hughes said: "We resisted offers for Shefki but when the bidding got a certain level, it was hard to resist."