Blackburn Rovers

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Blackburn Rovers defender Dion Sanderson says he couldn't wait to be reunited with boss John Eustace.

The 25-year-old moved to Ewood Park on loan from Birmingham City last week and is back working under Eustace who he spent time with at both Blues and QPR

"It all happened quite quickly, my agent told me there was interest from Blackburn and straight away I was like, get me down there," Sanderson told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I've got nothing but good memories under John - at Birmingham we had a strong half season and he built that connection with the players"

Blackburn are currently seventh in the Championship, one point outside the play-off places and Sanderson believes Eustace has all the qualities to manage at the top level.

"To me he's a great person first of all. He's really ambitious, dedicated to his job and will hammer down on the basics and there's no cutting corners which is how it should be.

"I'm glad to see him doing well here and I'm glad to be here to help."

The defender is in line to make his Rovers debut in Wednesday's Championship match at home to Portsmouth.

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford is on a "long list" of players Blackburn Rovers are looking at as potential signings in January. (Lancashire Telegraph), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip here.

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Blackburn Rovers boss John Eustace is hopeful that wingers Amario Cozier-Duberry and Ryan Hedges will be fit for Wednesday's rearranged Championship fixture against Portsmouth (19:45 GMT).

The pair missed the FA Cup win to Middlesbrough at the weekend due to illness.

Midfielder Adam Forshaw and Birmingham City loanee Dion Sanderson are both available and could make their debuts at Ewood Park, while captain Lewis Travis is back training on grass but is still a "couple of weeks away" from a full return.

The match was originally meant to take place in November but was postponed due to Storm Bert.

Blackburn Rovers seek a return to the play-off spots as they host relegation-threatened Portsmouth on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Rovers have not won any of their past five league games to see themselves drop out of the top six, just one point shy of West Bromwich Albion and two away from Middlesbrough in sixth and fifth respectively.

However, they did beat Boro on Saturday to advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup and will be hoping the victory reignites winning ways.

Meanwhile, Pompey lost out to League One's Wycombe Wanderers in their cup tie on Friday and will drop into the bottom three if Cardiff City avoid defeat against Watford on Tuesday.

• Blackburn Rovers are unbeaten across their past five league games against Portsmouth (W4 D1) and will be looking to win three matches in succession against Pompey for the first time since January 2006.

• Since 1985, Portsmouth have won just two of their 16 away league games against Blackburn Rovers (D3 L11), with both of those victories coming in the Premier League (2-1 in March 2004 & 1-0 in September 2007). During that run, Pompey have netted just 10 goals in total and more than one in a match just once.

• After a six-game winning streak in the league between November and December, Blackburn are without a win in their last five such games (D2 L3), losing each of their last two at Ewood Park.

• Portsmouth have lost each of their past four away league games, failing to score in three of those games and conceding 10.

• Portsmouth's Josh Murphy is one of only four players in the Championship this season with at least five goals and five assists, scoring and assisting in a game already in 2025 against Swansea City.

Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers have joined the race to sign Southampton forward Ben Brereton Diaz, with the Chile international struggling for game time on the south coast. (The Star, external)

However, the 25-year-old prefers either a loan move to Sheffield United or to see out the rest of the season with the Saints. (Daily Mail, external)

Chesterfield are favourites to sign Rovers defender Kyle McFadzean as the 37-year-old looks to move closer to home. (Derbyshire Times, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.

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FA Cup hero Andi Weimann has attributed his return to the Blackburn scoresheet with a timley change of hairstyle.

The 33-year-old bagged the only goal on 70 minutes to settle Rovers' third round tie at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

It ended a six-match scoring drought for the Austrian, extended to more than two months by a knee injury following his double in the 3-1 win at Cardiff in the Championship on 9 November.

He told the club website, external: "The boys said when I've got blonde hair I score goals, so I got it done two days ago and it worked."

Sunderland could bring in Ben Brereton-Diaz from Southampton to aid their promotion push, leading the race for the striker's signing ahead of his former clubs Sheffield United and Blackburn. (Sheffield Star, external)

QPR are set to battle Blackburn to the capture of veteran Crystal Palace midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp, who is out of contract at the end of the season. (Football League World, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.

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Middlesbrough have won their last two FA Cup games against Blackburn, with this their first meeting in the competition since a 1-0 home win in the 2001-02 fifth round.

Meanwhile, Rovers are unbeaten in their past 10 away games against Middlesbrough in all competitions (W3 D7), and have already won 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium this season in the Championship.

Preston have cooled their interest in Crystal Palace wide man Jeffrey Schlupp, who has fallen out of favour at Selhurst Park and has also been linked with Blackburn. (Lancashire Evening Post, external)

Rovers midfielder Dilan Markanday is a target for League One Leyton Orient after an impressive loan spell in League Two with Chesterfield. (Football Insider, external)

Want more EFL transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column.

Blackburn Rovers forward Harry Leonard says he's looking to "gain the trust" of boss John Eustace as he returns from long-term back and shoulder issues.

The 21-year-old has made just six appearances since Eustace took the helm in February but has featured in the past four league games and scored a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Sunderland on Boxing Day.

Having spent much of his time with his new boss in the recovery room, Leonard has plenty of praise for the attention he received throughout the healing process.

"A lot of managers can sometimes forget about injured players," Leonard told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He's been really good throughout the whole process.

"Whenever I'm called upon, I feel like I'll be ready now and I'll try to take my opportunities best I can."

Rovers face fellow Championship side Middlesbrough on Saturday in the third round of the FA Cup.

The two sides are having similarly successful seasons in the league so far, with Rovers being just two points below Boro in a play-off spot.

It could be another chance for Leonard to impress - especially given the absence of team-mate Yuki Ohashi, who has been ruled out for a month with an ankle injury.

"Yuki is a big miss for everyone," Leonard added.

"I got injured and that gave other people opportunities so that's just the way it works.

"I'll try doing my best for the club and all the lads."

Blackburn Rovers are in talks with Coventry City over signing defender Liam Kitching to provide cover for the injured Harry Pickering and Hayden Carter. (Lancashire Telegraph, external)

Barrow have won the race to sign Rovers right-back Leo Duru on loan with the teenager only having played one minute in the Championship this season. (Lancashire Telegraph, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip here.

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Blackburn boss John Eustace admits Rovers will miss the leadership qualities of Lewis Baker, who has been recalled from loan by Stoke.

The 29-year-old has started five Championship games in holding midfield in the past month among his 13 Rovers appearances, scoring his only goal in the win over Cardiff in November.

Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire: "Lewis has been fantastic on and off the pitch. Most importantly off the pitch really, as a leader. His experience has really helped the group through some good times and some difficult times.

"He's been brilliant with the young boys. He's a top professional and that's the reason why we brought him to the football club.

"We knew what we'd get from him and he's going to be missed."

Rovers' 21-year-old striker Harry Leonard also had his say, adding: "He was great with me and great around the dressing room.

"He's come in to the team in the last few weeks and has done really well. His ability in training and in the games is there for everyone to see.

"It's a big miss for everyone."

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New Stoke City boss Mark Robins has recalled midfielder Lewis Baker from his scheduled season's loan with Blackburn Rovers.

The 29-year-old former Chelsea youth player scored the only goal of the game to beat Robins' Coventry City on the opening day of the season.

But he was then allowed out on loan to fellow Championship side Blackburn on transfer deadline day in August.

He has made 13 appearances to help Blackburn to seventh place in the Championship, 12 places and 12 points ahead of Stoke.

But he has returned to The Potters in time for Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie at Sunderland.

"It was clear in discussions with Mark that he believes Lewis can play an important role in our squad," said sporting director Jonathan Walters.

"With the best part of 300 career appearances to his name, Lewis will add invaluable experience, while his technical ability is something our supporters will be well aware of.

"Having started each of Blackburn's four fixtures over the festive period, he returns ready to make an immediate impact."

Baker, originally signed by former boss Michael O'Neill on loan from Chelsea in January 2022, is currently on a three-year deal with Stoke, which expires at the end of this season.

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Teenage Blackburn goalkeeper Nick Michalski has signed a new two-year contract at the club.

The 17-year-old England youth international joined Rovers at under-12 level and quickly moved through the ranks to make his under-21s debut and join the first team fold as a 16-year-old.

He was named by John Eustace on the Rovers bench in the Championship twice last season, against Millwall and Plymouth in March, when he also signed his first professional deal.

He has spent time on loan with Bamber Bridge and City of Liverpool FC this season while he made his England Under-18s debut in a 3-1 victory over Ukraine in October, before appearing in friendlies against Poland and Germany in November.

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Blackburn defender Charlie Olson will remain with National League side Altrincham until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old centre-back has had two loan spells with the Greater Manchester club during the first half of the season and will now remain at Alty until May.

Olson, who has been with Rovers since Under-12s level, has made nine appearances in all competitions so far this season for Alty, who are currently 10th in the National League.