YOU could sense the genuine excitement emanating from Blackburn Rovers’ newest recruit as he eagerly discussed his new Premier League challenge at Ewood Park.

He has already seen his top flight dream dashed at two of his former clubs but, speaking with steely determination at Rovers’ Brockhall training ground, Bradley Orr came across as someone who was ready to make it third time lucky.

The 29-year-old scouser has been chasing football’s top flight for as long as he can remember.

He suffered Championship play-off final heartbreak with Bristol City and then found himself dumped on the periphery by QPR, having played a key role in their Premier League promotion.

Orr is not a man to give up easily and, as he attempts to finally establish himself as a Premier League footballer, was adamant nothing would be left on the field in his pursuit of fulfilling his boyhood ambitions.

“It is really exciting to come to a great club like Blackburn Rovers,” he said. “I think if you give your all in everything you do then you can look yourself in the mirror and know, whatever level you are at, that is where you should be.

“You will get a committed performance every week from me and whether that is good enough or not is not for me to say. There will be no bedding in period because it is so tight at the bottom. I have to go straight in and deal with whatever comes my way.

“Playing at the top level has been my dream, my ambition, since I was a young lad and I have never lost sight of that. I have always wanted to establish myself at this level and I believe Blackburn Rovers have given me the perfect opportunity to do that.”

So what did go wrong at Loftus Road? Last season Orr was a regular as QPR swept all aside to storm to the Championship title. He thought his Premier League dream was about to be realised.

Just two league starts and four substitute appearances have followed though this season, leaving the right back feeling a sense of anti climax and a desire to make up for lost time.

Orr said: “On a personal note it has been difficult. I am the type of character who likes to train and play and try and give as much as I can. Your reward as a footballer is the end of the week when it is game time.

“The previous manager Neil Warnock chose other options, which is fair enough, but when you are a player who wants to play it becomes difficult.

“Different managers have different views. You look at Paul Lambert and Brendan Rodgers at the other two promoted clubs and the majority of their team is from the team that got them promoted from the Championship.

“Our gaffer at the time had a different view. He felt he needed a lot of Premier League experience to get survival, so I suppose different managers have different views and different opinions.

“I went into the season very optimistic I would play a lot of games because I had a very good season the season before. I am one of them if you play well the shirt is yours to keep. That is what I think.

“It wasn’t the case. The gaffer at the time felt the need to bring Premier League experience in and that is fair enough. There is no bitterness towards him, it was just unfortunate for me.”

As Orr prepares for his Rovers debut at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon, he is under no illusion as to the challenge Steve Kean’s men have ahead of them.

But, having turned down the chance to stay at QPR, Orr is adamant his new club have more enough in their ranks to climb out of the drop zone and guarantee top flight safety.

He said: “As soon as I knew of Blackburn’s interest it made my mind up and it was a little bit of no man’s land because we had had a change of manager and he was still looking at the squad.

“Mark Hughes was absolutely brilliant. He was very honest, he told me he would like me to stay. He tried to persuade me quite a bit to stay at least until the end of the season because he felt I could have played a big part under him. But my mind was made up.

“When I knew Blackburn were interested and I had the chance of coming and really establishing myself it just really excited me. I had made my mind up and even though I spoke to Mark Hughes a few times, it was a decision I knew was right for me and the progression in my career.

“I am 100 per cent confident we can stay up. Just look around the dressing room and the quality Blackburn have got. The blend of youth, experience and talent.

“Wednesday night’s performance against Newcastle showed that. I thought they dominated Newcastle and all they didn’t do was put the ball in the back of the net - I know that is the most important thing.

“On another night it could have been a 5-2, it seriously could have been. Watching that just enhanced my thoughts on what I thought before.”