Cantwell backs Rovers after 'unlucky' Rangers spell
Todd Cantwell has been at the heart of Blackburn Rovers' recent resurgence in form
- Published
Todd Cantwell says he is "70%" back to his best after getting back in "the right environment" at Blackburn Rovers.
The former England Under-21 star left Rangers in the summer after falling out of favour with manager Philippe Clement and handing in a transfer request.
Cantwell was described as the "focal point" of the Rovers team by current manager John Eustace last week after playing a vital role in wins over Middlesbrough and Leeds United that have seen them surge up the Championship table to lie within two points of the play-off places.
Cantwell scored his first goal for the club against Leeds, netting the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
The former Norwich City midfielder alluded to the unhappy ended to his 19-month stay at Ibrox, telling BBC Radio Lancashire: "To have a few of those moments in my career so far is probably uncommon. It felt a bit unlucky.
"Situations and different things have followed me around - I've got on with the manager and they've gone, or I haven't maybe seen eye to eye with the tactical side of things.
"Your career is short and you look back and realise that. I'm 26 now, not a young boy any more, and if you don't feel you're in the right environment to play your best, but also be happy.
"Happiness is a thing that often gets looked past in football. It's numbers-dominated, about where you are in the league and what you're playing for, and there's a lot to be said for just feeling happy in yourself and your environment.
Todd Cantwell: Mum told Blackburn midfielder he should have had hat-trick against Leeds.
"I thrived in the environment at Rangers but circumstances changed, different people were in charge and it didn't feel right any more.
"I'm proud of myself for taking that step (the transfer request) because the younger me would probably have sat for another season, and it might have been a season that I looked back on and say I lost."
Cantwell says he was mentally and physically below par when he arrived at Ewood Park but has rectified that: "When I first came here I didn't realise how match-unfit I was and didn't give enough respect to the fact I wasn't really ready or as close as I thought I was, in my own head, to play.
"I'm touching 70% at the moment so I know there are gears to go up."
Having won three on the bounce, Rovers go to Hull City on Saturday and Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, and Cantwell believes they can be in the promotion shake-up.
"The manager was here before I arrived, but you could tell there was a clarity behind the expectation of what he thinks we can do, and what we should think we can do.
"I'm joining a team that managed to find points in the last couple of games last season to keep them in the league, so it's results like last week that give some people the belief that we can be serious this season.
"This Championship season, more than most, feels quite open. So the opportunity is there for us, and results like last week should give everyone the confidence and the reality that we can get in there if we push hard enough."
Todd Cantwell's first goal for Blackburn Rovers came from the penalty spot in the victory over Leeds United last week.