The 28-year-old has completed a £2million from Sunderland to Blackburn Rovers.
Big Sam said: “He is a talented player.
“He can be a little wayward, as everybody knows, but hopefully I’ll be able to control him as much as I did when I was at Bolton.
“In the time I spent with him we always finished in the top half of the Premier League, no lower than eighth, and we played in Europe.
“Hopefully he can bring his ability, his trickery to Ewood Park, and delight some of the Blackburn fans.”
