HE'S been there. He's done it. And now he's got the t-shirt!

But irrespective of the slogan that was emblazoned across his chest yesterday, Blackburn Rovers' latest signing Jay Bothroyd insists his 'bad boy' image is now firmly behind him.

In fact, the 22-year-old striker even affords himself a wry smile these days whenever the tabloid Press attempts to dig up his past.

Four years ago, Bothroyd was the name on everyone's lips.

As one of the brightest stars of Arsenal's Youth Academy, he was being touted as the next big thing in English football.

But then a bust up with Gunners' youth team coach Don Howe led to the Londoner being kicked out of Highbury.

And ever since then, that 'bad boy' tag has followed him everywhere, although Bothroyd himself says the myth is nothing like the reality.

There was a certain irony, therefore, when the former England Under 21 international emerged from Rovers' Brockhall training base yesterday in a t-shirt sporting the slogan 'bad boy'.

However, appearances can be deceptive and Bothroyd claims to have done a lot of growing up since those teenage years at Arsenal.

"When you're young you do things that are maybe a bit immature," admitted the 6ft 3in striker, who could make his debut for Rovers at Newcastle tomorrow.

"Everyone's a bit mouthy and stuff but you do grow out of it.

"That happened four or five years ago and people are still talking about it now so I don't whether people are trying to break me or not.

"But they must know by now that they can't do that.

"I've carried on and I've always done well wherever I have been so it doesn't really get to me now.

"I just tend to laugh it off because those who work with me know that I'm not a bad boy.

"I don't get sent off every week, I don't go round kicking people on purpose, I don't get suspended or banned, so why am I a bad boy?"

Bothroyd's strength of character has certainly been put to the test during the first two weeks of his Blackburn career.

It's hard enough trying to find your feet at a new club but when the manager who signed you then leaves within days of your arrival, it must be tempting to think you've made a mistake.

However, Bothroyd has no regrets about swapping Perugia for Rovers and he's determined to force his way into the new manager's plans, whoever that may be.

"Graeme Souness said to me that he didn't know he was leaving when he signed me but this was one of those opportunities that I couldn't turn down," said Bothroyd.

"I've just got to move on because everyone is starting from level one now. There's no favourites. Everyone's starting from scratch here, and I've just got to try and impress the new manager when he arrives.

"Hopefully, I'll score a few goals and do well for the club.

"I just want to settle in as quickly as I can and then force my way into the first eleven as quickly as I can."

Bothroyd has already packed more into his relatively short career than many professional players do in a lifetime.

After starting out as a youngster at Arsenal, he then moved on to Coventry, before signing for Perugia on a free last summer, and his year in Italy was eventful - on and off the pitch.

"It was difficult, especially at the beginning because I didn't speak any Italian and they didn't speak any English until some of the international players came back.

"They had an Australian, a Nigerian and a Greek player who all spoke a bit of English and they helped me learn some Italian as well so, by Christmas, I was alright.

"I could understand Italian and communicate which made it easier for me to play football.

"But it did get quite lonely. It's not like over here. You can't just go to the cinema or the shops.

"The lifestyle is so different but I guess there's pros and cons to everything.

"It was a good experience for me going out there, though, and I definitely felt I improved as a player."

Now Bothroyd is setting his sights on making a mark in the Premiership with Rovers.

The 22-year-old has played in the Premier League before.

In fact, he made his debut as an 18-year-old for Coventry in a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United.

So the cauldron atmosphere of St James' Park holds no fears for him.

"It's a big game tomorrow but then every game in the Premiership is these days," said Bothroyd.

"We're just looking to win and it doesn't matter if it's Newcastle, Manchester United or Arsenal, we just want to get three points on the board and get ourselves up the table as quickly as possible."

And if things go well over the next nine months, what about the possibility of him staying at Rovers permanently?

"If I do well and work hard then I'd like that. I could be back here with my family, my son and my girlfriend and I'd be more settled because this is my country."