Barry Douglas admits Leeds United stay was an option ahead of Blackburn Rovers switch

Barry Douglas has admitted he could have stayed at Leeds United this season but opted to leave in search of regular first team football.

The 31-year-old left-back made the move from Elland Road to Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan last month which effectively brought his stay with the Whites to a close.

Douglas - who made a £3m move to West Yorkshire from Wolves in 2018 - struggled to earn a regular starting berth under Marcelo Bielsa and will see his contract expire next summer.

The Scot struggled heavily with injury issues and as a result fell down the pecking order.

United boss Bielsa admitted ahead of his transfer that he still had a role to play in the club's first Premier League campaign in 16 years despite being left out of all of his match day squads.

Douglas has now revealed that the decision was his and his alone to swap Yorkshire for Lancashire.

“Football is a short career, I’d never rest on my laurels," Douglas told the Lancashire Telegraph.

"I could have stayed at Leeds, I was wanted to stay and compete for a place, but I wasn’t guaranteed football,” he explained.

“I felt the onus was on me to make that decision and that’s the way that I approach things.

“I don’t want to be comfortable, I want to go and challenge myself and that’s how I address things.”

Asked about what led him to Ewood Park, he said: "I was always hopeful of finding the right solution.

"It wasn’t just about going out there and playing, it had to be the right fit, the right club.

“Thankfully we got there in the end and I’m here now and my full focus is on helping Blackburn compete and try and achieve success.”