BLACKBURN battler Barry Ferguson has revealed he is finally settling into life at Ewood Park.

The Scottish midfielder had confessed he was homesick shortly after making the £6m switch from Glasgow Rangers two months ago.

But the midfield ace, who starred for Scotland in last Saturday's stunning 1-0 win over Holland in their Euro 2004 qualifier, has now revealed he is "much happier" south of the border.

The ex-Rangers skipper said: "It was always going to take time to settle. Now I'm getting to know the Blackburn players and how the team plays, I'm much happier."

Ferguson's comments are backed up by his on-field performances. After a sluggish start, he was arguably the man of the match in both of Rovers' last two games, against Liverpool in the Worthington Cup and Everton in the Premiership last week.

And Ferguson's return to form is a further boost following the shock news that Rovers look like being without David Thompson for the foreseeable future.

The popular midfielder flies out to America today for an initial four-day consultation with crack US surgeon Dr Richard Steadman, who famously saved the careers of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alan Shearer.

Thompson is still suffering a swelling of the knee following games and Rovers are anxious to get a second opinion after surgery failed to cure the problem.

JOY: Ferguson