BLACKBURN Rovers midfielder Garry Flitcroft today hailed Mark Hughes's appointment as the dawn of a new era.

Hughes was officially installed as the club's new manager yesterday morning.

And Flitcroft says his arrival has already given the dressing room a 'massive lift' ahead of tomorrow's clash with Portsmouth at Ewood.

"There's been a lot of speculation since Graeme Souness left the club and quite a few different names were linked with the job," said Flitcroft.

"But the players all wanted Mark Hughes from the outset.

"The likes of me, Craig Short and Brad Friedel have all worked with him in the past and we know exactly what he's all about.

"The players have got the utmost respect for him and he's the type of man you want to play for.

"He's a winner, he's got bags of enthusiasm, and I think he'll help all the young players who are at the club.

"His appointment will lift the whole place.

"I think the club was in need of a lift and Sparky's the man to do that."

Hughes was the unanimous choice to succeed Souness from the moment the job first became available 12 days ago.

The players were quick to identify him as their number one choice and that view was also shared by the fans, with almost 60 per cent of those who voted in our special phone poll opting for the Wales manager as Souness's successor.