CHARLIE Mulgrew is delighted to be back on the pitch for Rovers after revealing his frustration at only lasting 34 minutes of his debut.

The Scotland international made the move from Celtic Park to Ewood Park on transfer deadline day, signing a three-year deal, and made his bow 10 days later against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

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But he managed just over half-an-hour before picking up a calf injury that kept him out for the next month.

Mulgrew, who has 24 caps for his country and played over 100 games for Celtic, returned to the squad against Ipswich 10 days ago and came off the bench against both Nottingham Forest and Bristol City.

He believes those cameos have been ideal as he looks to increase his fitness levels and he insists he won’t rush the recovery process.

Of the injury at QPR, he said: “It’s was massively frustrating. I’ve come here to play games - that’s what my job is and that’s what I want to do.

“For that to happen is devastating, but once it does happen you’ve just got to look forward and look to the next match.

“I’m building my minutes up now. I played 20 minutes in the Forest game and I played 45 on Saturday.

“When you’re coming back from injury you have to build up your strength, so it’s worked out perfectly.

“I’ve rushed back in the past and it’s not benefited me, so it’s important I get it right.

“It’s a bit frustrating - you’re just dying to get going after a few days’ training. But it’s important you build the strength in the muscle.

“I’ve done that and now I’m ready to go.”

The versatile 30-year-old can switch between midfielder and defence. He was drafted in at left-back at Ashton Gate following Derrick Williams’ injury, but says he doesn’t mind where he plays so long as it helps the team.

“I’m mostly a centre-back or a midfielder,” he said. “To be honest, I like centre-back.

“But I’ve played a lot in midfield for Scotland and a lot at Celtic as well. I can also do a job at left-back if needed.

“As I’ve always said, it’s the team that comes first and is most important, so I’m happy to fill in wherever I’m needed.”

Mulgrew impressed in the full-back berth against the Robins and was gutted to see his side concede a late goal to Aaron Wilbraham’s deflected shot.

But he says the biggest regret for the players was not being able to reward the 556 Rovers fans who had made the long trip for their support.

He added: “It was disappointing to concede late on at Bristol City, but it was good to see the fans appreciate how the players played, especially in the first half half.

“They showed their appreciation well. It was disappointing and we were gutted that we couldn’t give back to them with a result.

“It was one of those things - a deflected shot that was never really going anywhere.

“But we need to start turning that in our favour now and we hope to start that on Saturday against Wolves.”