PAUL Warhurst is hoping his return 'home' to a Lancashire club will turn out better than his last experience with a Red Rose side.

Warhurst who signed on Saturday after a successful loan spell at the Reebok, had an unhappy spell with injuries when he played for Blackburn a few years ago.

"I was there for four years but I had a lot of bad luck with injuries.

"It was obviously very disappointing because things could have worked out so much different. But it wasn't to be."

That led to the Stockport born Warhurst being exiled to London with Palace but he jumped at the chance to return north when the Wanderers offer came in.

"It was out of the blue and as soon as it did I relished the idea of moving back home and being up here."

Wanderers have seen Warhurst form a successful defensive partnership during his loan, first with Jon Newsome and then with Mark Fish.

And it's a role Warhurst is delighted to play although for the modest £800,000 fee, Todd now has the experience of a player who can also perform well up front and in midfield.

"Playing at the back suits me though, " said Warhurst. "I've played there a lot in my career and fortunately I know the lads here pretty well so we'll just get back to it and see how it goes.

"It was disappointing to go out of the cup with having as much of the play as we had. It was very frustrating. It may be a blessing in disguise, you never know, but we can now concentrate on the league and that's our top priority."

The deal is still subject to a medical which Warhurst will undergo this week and he is hoping to make his return to the side in next Sunday's TV game at the Reebok - against his old club Crystal Palace.

Had he still been a loan player with Wanderers he would not have lined up against Palace but now a permanent deal has been completed there are no such restrictions.

Scott Sellars, who hit Wanderers goal in the 2-1 defeat at the Reebok, also shared the disappointment of a cup exit. "We fancied a good cup run but it wasn't to be. Everyone gave it their all and when we went to 1-1 we were looking to win the game. All you can ask for is lots of effort and I think we all put that in. In the end it just wasn't to be."

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