‘It would be a good feeling’

​​​​​​​Martin Olsson reckons Blackburn Rovers belong in the Premier League – but insists Swansea City are in confident mood as they get set to face his former club tonight (7.45pm).

Olsson made more than 140 appearances for Rovers having left his native Sweden for Ewood Park as a teenager.

Now 30, the Swans left-back remains grateful for the significant part Rovers played in his career.

And he is looking forward to the prospect of meeting Blackburn for the third time since he left for Norwich City in 2013.

“Blackburn are a club who took very good care of me,” Olsson said.

“I made my debut there when I was 19 and I played a lot of Premier League football with Blackburn.

“I only have positive things to say about the club and it will be a nice feeling playing against them again.

“They were in League One last season, but they shouldn’t be down there.

“They don’t belong there. In fact I don’t think they belong in the Championship either.

“With the history of the club, the training facilities and the stadium, I think they’re a club who belong in the Premier League.”

Having turned heads with his performances in the youth set-up at Swedish club Hogaborgs, Olsson signed for Blackburn in January 2006.

He made his senior debut in the Uefa Cup in 2007, before a maiden Premier League appearance later that year.

“I started my academy days there and worked my way into the first team,” said Olsson.

“I have really good memories from my time there and it’s a club that is close to my heart.

“I haven’t been back to Ewood Park for a long time but if I play against them it would be a good feeling, even if it is at our place.

“I look forward to seeing some old friends, but I want the three points for us. That’s the most important thing.

“We’ll win some and we’ll lose some in this division, but we are going to go into the game with a lot of confidence because of the performances we have produced and hopefully we will get a positive result.”