MARCUS Olsson is determined to build a reputation at Blackburn Rovers as more than just Martin’s brother – and he is eagerly looking forward to the day when they appear on the pitch together for the first time.

Marcus joined Rovers on the last day of the January transfer window and is yet to make his debut for the club but believes he has what it takes to succeed in England, just as his brother has done.

The older of the Olsson twins by one minute, he arrived at Rovers on trial together with Martin six years ago but was unable to earn a deal at the time.

In contrast, Martin did secure a contract and has gone on to make 97 first-team appearances for Rovers – as well as earning a regular place with the Swedish national team, who he is expected to represent at Euro 2012.

That led to Marcus being regarded simply as ‘Martin’s brother’ during his time with Halmstads in his native Sweden, but he hopes that will change now he has been given his chance in the Premier League.

“That’s how it was for a couple of years when I played over in Sweden, mostly I was Martin Olsson’s brother,” said Marcus, who had the possibility of moving to Belgium with Standard Liege before the offer came to join Rovers.

“But now I’ve taken this step and I want to become a good player. I want to be known as Marcus, not Martin’s brother.

“I am a different person, there are similarities on the pitch as well but we are different people and we have different skills.

“I know this is a very difficult league to play in, it’s very high tempo but I know I have the tempo in me and with the right players over here, quality players, I think I can develop at training.

“And I have my brother to motivate me and help me become a better player.”

The 23-year-old brothers, who have a Kenyan mother, are eager to feature together for the first time since they paired up as teenagers at Swedish lower league club Hogaborgs.

“When I was here for a couple of days to train we just started laughing when we were in the same kit,” Marcus said.

“It has been a while. Back home we played together, he played left back, I played left wing, so it was just fun to see him again on the same pitch.

“My mum has always wanted us to play together and I have always told her calm down, some day it will happen. But we never thought it would happen so early.

“She’s in Kenya and I think she had a big party over there when I signed here!”

Despite relegation in the final year of his contract at Halmstads, Marcus did make his debut for Sweden last month as part of an experimental squad that took on Bahrain and Qatar.

As twins, Marcus knows the pair could cause some confusion early on during the time together at Ewood but has a close relationship with his brother.

“I think people will see us the first time and find it difficult because of the similarities, but after a while it becomes easier,” he said.

“I am more attacking than Martin, I am a left midfielder and I like taking on my man, and I am a bit quicker than him! The big difference between us is he likes to tackle more.

“And I think Martin is more childish! He likes joking around a lot, like a little baby, that’s the difference!

“It’s one minute difference between us but it feels like it’s 10 years with how he acts!

“We were 17 and we were back home in Sweden when we first got an invitation to come over here on trial for a week.

“We did well in the first week so we got invited again and we had a pretty good week then as well. We loved the club.

“We both really wanted to sign, Martin got a contract and of course I also wanted to get the contract.

“In the beginning I wasn’t thinking about it too much but over the years as my brother made his debut and started playing often, I started to realise this is what I want also.

“I was very happy for him and he kept me motivated.

“He told me, ‘Stay strong, train hard and hopefully you will get here’.”