DAMIEN Johnson is relishing the chance to work with his former Blackburn Rovers team-mate John Filan again after being appointed as the club’s new U21s lead coach.

The duo were members of Graeme Souness’ Rovers squad which won promotion to the Premier League in 2001.

MORE TOP STORIES:

And they have now been reunited after Johnson was named as the new boss of the club’s development squad.

The former Northern Ireland midfielder, 36, will be assisted by Filan, who has been Rovers’ U21s assistant coach since the start of last season.

And Johnson said: “I had a great relationship with John when we played together and he’s been brilliant with me in my first few days in the job.

“Over the years you go your separate ways but it has clicked once again and it has fallen into place.

“Along with Matt Busby and Craig Faulkner, there is a really strong U21s coaching team and I’m just delighted to be a part of that now.”

Johnson returned to Rovers in March to take over the club’s U14s side.

But he has earned a swift promotion after Eric Kinder gave up the U21s job to concentrate on his new role as the club’s head of academy.

“It has been a great few months being back at the club so I’m delighted to be given this opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Johnson, who graduated through the Rovers ranks and went on to make more than 80 appearances for the first team.

“Everyone has been brilliant, the staff have been very welcoming and everyone has made me feel right at home.”

Rovers U21s, who reached the final of the U21s Premier League Cup last season, get their preparations for the 2015-16 campaign under way with a friendly at Burscough on Saturday (3pm).

And Johnson said of his new charges: “I’ve heard good things about them and I know they did really well to reach their cup final last year and so far they’ve not let me down, they’ve applied themselves really well.

“Training has been good but all players look forward to games and that is when we can really measure their progress and fitness.”