'I doubted if I'd be the same player'

On making his first Championship start after a near 18-month injury nightmare, Blackburn defender Scott Wharton said he'd doubted he'd be the same player again.

The 27-year-old suffered an ACL injury against Sheffield Wednesday in April 2024 but after two appearances off the bench in the Championship and 90 minutes in the EFL Cup first round, Wharton impressed in his first league start since in Saturday's 1-0 win at Watford.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's been a long time coming for me. Obviously I had a really bad injury so I've had to wait a long time for this day.

"I was nervous before the game. I just wanted to start the game well and just do your job basically.

"Obviously, after a serious injury I've had my doubts whether I'd be the same player or be able to play in the Championship. I felt like there was a lot on my shoulders to put in a good performance, even to prove to myself I could do it.

"I am proud of myself. It's been a long road but I'm back."

Rovers' second win of the campaign took them up to 16th the table.

Wharton added: "We massively deserved the win. There's early signs we can do well this season in the league. I think we're only going to get better."