However, his 2001–02 Premier League campaign was hampered by the form of new signing Lucas Neill, limiting him to just 10 league appearances. He was an unused substitute in the 2002 Football League Cup Final which Blackburn won. He failed to regain his regular starting place, and spent the second half of the 2002–03 season on loan to Sheffield United. At the end of the season he was released by Blackburn on a free transfer, and was signed by Leicester City (newly promoted to the Premier League) on a two-year contract.