SUMMER signing Dominic Matteo is the latest player in the Ewood E-males hot seat. Dominic, a Scottish international, was a great servant at both Liverpool and Leeds United before re-crossing the Pennines to join Rovers. A versatile player, Dominic was up for tackling supporters' questions, whatever direction they came in from.

Q: Dominic, after captaining Leeds United, how hard was it to leave the club to join Blackburn?
Tim Young, Southampton

Yes, it was hard to leave Leeds, I felt I had a great rapport with the fans there. But I wanted to stay in the Premier League and I'm thankful to Rovers for giving me the chance. It's a great club and for me, it was the right move at the right time.

Q: If you didn't make it as a football player what do you think you would have done for your career?
Christopher Ward, Dalton in Furness

When I was younger, I used to do a bit of gardening to earn some cash and I quite enjoyed that. I'm not much of a gardener these days, but if I wasn't a footballer I'd like to work outdoors in some shape or form. It would be gardening or building work.

Q: Who was your football inspiration when you were young and which team did you support?
From Si Royle.

Kenny Dalglish, I used to watch him from the Kop as a Liverpool supporter. He actually took me to the club and I believed he was the best player in the world. Kenny had a sense of awe around him, different class. I believe he did quite well for Blackburn, too!

Q: What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?
David Pollitt, Darwen

Playing for Liverpool, the team I supported as a boy must be in there somewhere. But I'll go for playing in the Champions League with Leeds generally. And from a personal point of view, the goal I scored in the San Siro against AC Milan to take us through to the second stage. As a defensive midfielder, you don't many chances to be in the limelight. I enjoyed that!

Q: Dominic, it's great to have a few left footers in the squad. To make you use your right foot more, did your teacher make you play with no boot on your left foot like mine did?
Ian Patefield, Northampton

You have to play to your strengths, but when I started at Liverpool, I was played at right back and just happy to be involved. I remember going to soccer camps and being forced to use only my right foot for a day. To be quite honest, one foot might be stronger but to survive at this level you have to use both.

Q: One of your trademarks is the close cropped haircut, when you don't have to head a ball all the time what hairstyle do you think you'll plump for?
John Lawrence, Accrington

My hair has never been long. A good friend of mine in Leeds is a hairdresser and it takes two minutes to sort me out. It's great for training and takes very little looking after. I'll probably keep it like this when I stop playing. At Liverpool, Robbie Fowler and me went blonde for a while, but we took so much stick, I'd never do it again!

Q: Hi, Dominic! I admire your leadership on the field. Do you have ambition to be Blackburn's captain one day?
D. Boyadjiev, Sofia, Bulgaria

I had a few years at Leeds and it's such a great honour and responsibility to captain any club. We have a good captain in Barry here, Garry was a great leader before him and I suspect there are others in the queue ahead of me. I just want to work hard and do my best for Blackburn.

Q: Who has had the biggest influence on your football career so far, and why?
Christine Riley, Westhoughton

My mum and dad always helped and supported me, they have been a massive influence. In my early playing years, Steve Heighway, the youth development officer at Anfield was important. People like Roy Evans and Ronnie Moran have given me solid, honest advice and help along the way.

Q: What is your favourite part of training, and why?
Sam Pickavance, Wakefield

You might not believe me, It's such an honour to be a footballer, I love it all. Probably the small-sided games are the favourite, but I look forward to training. The day it becomes a chore, I will pack in.

Q: To get away from football what are your interests and hobbies?
Sian Pritchard, Rhyl

I'm not one for golf or snooker. I enjoy going to the cinema or out for meals with my girlfriend. I also like going horse-racing with a few mates, it's a great way to unwind.

Q: You've played in both central defence, left sided defence and left sided midfield for Rovers, but which do you believe to be your strongest position?
Owen Pervez, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria

I've lost count of the number of times I've been asked this one. I would say the midfield holding role, though others might say centre-half. It's just great to be in the team, wherever you are asked to play. I have never moaned, I think you should just get on with it.