Murphy lured north on promise of first-team football

Danny Murphy claims the prospect of guaranteed first-team football persuaded him to join Blackburn's bid for an instant return to the Barclays Premier League.

Former England international Murphy spent five successful seasons with Fulham, captaining them to the 2010 Europa League final under the guidance of current national boss Roy Hodgson. After making 48 appearances in all competitions last season, the 35-year-old remains intent on regular game time - something Rovers boss Steve Kean made clear was on the agenda. "First and foremost, in my whole career I've made decisions based on playing football," Murphy told a press conference at Ewood Park. "Steve made it blatantly obvious that he wanted me here to be on the pitch, playing and performing which was a big factor. The conversation I'd had with Fulham was they wanted me to stay but they were maybe looking at bringing someone in to play instead of me rather than competing with me. "I didn't want to go down the road of finishing my career sitting, playing the odd game here and there. I'd rather be part of a new challenge and a project and that's what this gave me."