Blackburn Rovers defender Nissa Johansson has admitted he considered quitting the club after becoming disillusioned by his lack of opportunities under Graeme Souness last season.

The Swedish international has confessed he was so fed up under the old regime that he was ready to slap in a transfer request.

Johansson felt Souness never gave him a fair crack of the whip during his time in the Ewood hot-seat, often choosing to overlook him in favour of the more experienced members of his squad.

The 24-year-old claims it even got to the point where Souness would drop him from the first team regardless of how he performed in matches to accommodate his favourites.

However, Souness's recent departure for Newcastle has given Johansson fresh hope of cementing a regular first team place under new boss Mark Hughes.

And the former Nuremberg stopper has even set his sights on earning a new contract when his present deal expires at the end of the season.

"I felt a little bit harshly treated (by Graeme Souness)," admitted Johansson.

"He wanted to play experienced players and I'm the youngest one of the centre halves so I felt like it didn't really matter if I was the best in training or the best in pre-season - he still didn't let me play.

"I was really disappointed because that's all I could do. I can only show the manager what I can do in training and pre-season friendlies but that wasn't enough and I got really down.

"There were a few times last season when I played and thought I did really well but then the next game I was dropped anyway and it got to the point where I didn't know what to do, to be honest.

"The guys in the team were very supportive and they helped me a long.

"Sometimes I'd get really down and think 'is this the way to go?' and maybe start looking around for something else.

"But then Souness was suddenly gone and Mark Hughes came in and I had another lifeline.

"Now I've got my chance and I've just got to come in and do my best.

"Hopefully, if I play well and we win then I'll still be in the team next week."

Johansson only started seven Premiership games under Souness during the whole of last season and he has only made 69 league appearances in total for the club in the three years since signing from Nuremberg.

However, Hughes restored him to the starting line-up for last week's game against Liverpool and now the Swede is determined to prove to his new boss that he is worth a place on a permanent basis.

"As a young player you just want to play in every game and if you don't then it's not as much fun," said Johansson.

"It's not as fun going training and it's not as fun being at home, so you do worry and think about different options and go over different things in your head.

"But since the two Marks and Eddie have come in we've had some really good training sessions and they've all been very supportive so it's just about keeping your head down and working hard and hopefully your chance will come again."

Johansson was hoping to keep his place in the side for this afternoon's crunch encounter with Norwich at Carrow Road.

And if he can prove his worth over the next few months then that will boost his chances of being offered a new deal.

"I'm very happy here, I know the lads, I've been here three and a half years and I feel really settled and get along with everyone.

"If things don't work out here then I might look around.

"But I want to give this a proper go first. I know we have some very good players here and we have a good team. We just want to be higher in the league."

Former Blackburn Rovers striker Kevin Davies has signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with Bolton Wanderers.

The 27-year-old, whose contract had been due to expire in the summer, joined Wanderers for free in July 2003 after four unsuccessful years at Southampton and a disastrous time at Blackburn.