The Monaghan midfielder knows with David Thompson and Barry Ferguson returning from injury in August, the competition for places will be hot, but the 22-year-old sounds determined to earn his starting place.
"It's great for the club that they are both going to be fit for the start of the season, it's like two new signings for us with them being out for so long", Douglas told the club's official website.
"Nobody wants to be sitting on the bench or in the stands, but it's the gaffer who picks the side and if I'm not in there's no point crying about it, I've just got to work even harder and hopefully I'll be given a chance."
"Hopefully I'll be able to get involved more. I started playing more at the end of last season and if I can keep injury free and keep working hard then I will be able to play the games I really want to play," he added.
Douglas, a cousin of former World champion featherweight Barry McGuigan, made two substitute appearances to earn his international spurs - coming on in the 0-0 draw against Poland in Bydgoszcz in April and taking in the second half of the 3-0 Unity Cup defeat to Nigeria on May 29.
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Jonathan Douglas factfile:
Born: 22/11/1981
Height: 5' 11
Weight: 11st 11lbs
International honours: 1998 European U16 championship medal, U21 caps, 2 senior caps
History: Made his imprint in Irish football with his local eircom League club Monaghan United, before winning a 1998 European U16 championship medal with Ireland. Blackburn then made their move for the talented midfielder and he has been at Ewood Park ever since, apart from short loans to Blackpool and Chesterfield. Made his Ewood debut in a January 2001 FA Cup tie against Chester City, having broke into the Worthington Cup side to play West Ham in October 2000.
Made his Premiership debut as a late substitute against Fulham in a 2-1 November 2002 win.
Transfers: 08/00 - Monaghan United to Blackburn, loan, made permanent; 26/3/03 - Blackburn to Chesterfield, loan; 2/8/03 - Blackburn to Blackpool, loan
2003/04 season:
Blackburn:
Squad number: 26
Games played: 14
As substitute: 0
Goals: 1
Yellow cards: 3
Blackpool:
Games played: 18
As substitute: 1
Goals: 3
Yellow cards: 2
Red cards: 1