Blackburn Rovers

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.

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Blackburn Rovers have recalled midfielder Jake Garrett, activating a release clause in his loan deal at struggling League One side Bristol Rovers.

The 21-year-old initially joined the Gas on a season-long loan in the summer but has not featured for the side in any of their past five league games.

He made 11 appearances for the Bristolian club across all competitions.

A Blackburn academy graduate, his spell at Bristol Rovers marked his first senior outing outside the Lancashire club.

Blackburn Rovers host East Lancashire rivals Burnley on Saturday in one of three early kick-offs in the Championship (12:30 GMT).

Rovers have not won in four league games and have dropped out of the play-off places, but are level on points with sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion.

A win could see them move up to fifth but they will need to defeat a Burnley side that started the year with a goalless draw to stretch their unbeaten run to 12 league games.

• Blackburn Rovers have failed to win any of their past nine league meetings with Burnley (D4 L5), since a 1-0 away victory in the Premier League in March 2010.

• Burnley have won each of their last three away league games against Blackburn Rovers, with no team currently on a longer winning streak at Ewood Park as visitors.

• Three of Blackburn's last four Championship defeats have come at home, though they have not lost their opening home game of a calendar year since 2015 against Wolves, going nine unbeaten since (W4 D5) then.

• Burnley are unbeaten in each of their last six away league games (W4 D2), keeping five clean sheets in that period – the Clarets have conceded the fewest goals on the road in the Championship so far this term (5).

• Blackburn are winless in their last six league games against fellow Lancashire opposition (D4 L2), since beating Blackpool 1-0 in February 2023, while Burnley are unbeaten in their last 10 such games (W5 D5), since losing 2-0 to Preston in December 2015.

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Blackburn are set to be without Japan international Yuki Ohashi and could also be missing midfielder Todd Cantwell for Saturday's East Lancashire derby against Burnley.

Ohashi was injured in Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Leeds United following a challenge by Jayden Bogle that forced the striker to leave the field after 38 minutes. Cantwell missed that match through illness.

"Ochan [Ohashi] came off after about 20 minutes yesterday and has gone for a scan this morning. We're just waiting for his results," manager John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I didn't think it was a particularly good challenge so hopefully it won't be too long for him to be out.

"It was very swollen this morning in the treatment room. I'd be very surprised if he makes the game.

"Toddy didn't train again today. He's been affected really badly by this virus so we'll see how he is tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see."

Blackburn are already missing defenders Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter and Harry Pickering and midfielder Lewis Travis, while forward Arnor Sigurdsson is facing a few more weeks out.

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John Eustace said the way the players and fans celebrated Danny Batth's late equaliser at Leeds bodes well for the rest of Blackburn's season.

The 1-1 draw at Elland Road means Rovers have gone four games without a win over the Christmas and New Year period, but they remain in the play-off six, level on points with sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion.

"You can see that bond we've got, that togetherness," Eustace told BBC Lancashire. "We're a very tight squad and we keep fighting, and that's what you need to be in the Championship.

"That's what I wanted when I came here. I wanted that connection with the players and the fans most importantly, and I think they've got that."

Eustace also confirmed that midfielder Todd Cantwell missed the match through illness.

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John Eustace urged his players to look forward to the promotion challenge of the new year rather than dwell on a surprise home defeat by Hull City.

The Rovers manager saw his side experience only their second defeat in the last nine games and told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's a really disappointing result.

"It was a difficult game and we created a couple of really good chances, but needed to be more clinical.

"It was never going to be pretty and then we needed to defend the box better in the second half. The lads kept going, and the attitude was good, so we move on to the next one.

"The effort the boys put in a few days ago [2-2 draw v Sunderland] was excellent, so it was a big ask, but it was the same for both teams.

"It's important we don't get too disappointed. The boys have been magnificent this year and we go into the new year in the top six, which is really exciting."

Andy Bayes
Sports Editor, BBC Lancashire

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What do Blackburn need in January?

Rovers need to add competition for places and perhaps a couple of players who are going to genuinely impact the starting XI for the second half of the season.

The feeling is that, against the odds, they could mount a serious challenge for a play-off spot if they can fill some gaps in the squad. Players who have gone course and distance in the Championship would be great but they come at a premium.

What sort of business are they likely to do?

Rovers are looking for a striker (who isn't?) during the window. Yuki Ohashi has played a long time without a break now, and Makhtar Gueye getting off the mark at Sheffield Wednesday in December will do him the world of good. But, can they get someone who might weigh in with half a dozen league goals or more for the second half of the season.

There is also a feeling that a little more pace in the side is on the wanted list for John Eustace. Potentially a left-sided player to add further competition for places.

Also, with a season long injury to Scott Wharton and a lengthy absence for Hayden Carter, another central defender could be an option. Dom Hyam has played every minute of every game this season, and it's a good job that he has with others missing.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

Not hugely. No sooner had the window closed last January, former head coach Jon-Dahl Tomasson left the club.

Kyle McFadzean was the pick of who arrived last January but Rovers haven't had a new year window in recent memory that you've thought they've significantly strengthened.

High-profile registration errors have embarrassed them with moves for Nottingham Forest's Lewis O'Brien and Orlando City's Duncan Maguire falling through after the deadlines had passed.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

I don't believe so. I think had Hayden Carter been fit for the first half of the season, he could have attracted interest.

John Buckley and Arnor Sigurdsson haven't featured on the field as much as I'm sure they'd have liked to. It remains to be seen if both will remain at Ewood beyond January. Eustace certainly doesn't appear to be in a rush to lose them.

How important is the transfer window likely to be in determining the success of their season?

They won't be splashing the cash, that's for sure. I would imagine they'll have an eye on who is coming out of contract in the summer. Are there players in League One with talent who they can take up a level and give an opportunity to?

The feeling is that if Rovers are serious about a play-off challenge, the current squad could do with a little bit of help to give them the best chance possible. I think January is huge for Rovers.

Blackburn Rovers welcome Hull City to Ewood Park on Sunday as promotion hopefuls face relegation battlers.

An own goal proved the difference-maker between the two sides in Hull earlier this month, with Rovers the winners then.

Three points here would prove helpful to each club in different ways, with the Tigers currently 22nd in the table and fighting to avoid the drop while Blackburn are fifth and hunting for a play-off spot.

• Blackburn have only lost two of their last 13 home league games against Hull (W8 D3) but did lose 2-1 last season under Jon Dahl Tomasson.

• Hull City are looking to win consecutive league visits to Blackburn for the first time ever, with this their 32nd trip to Ewood Park in the EFL.

• Blackburn have lost their final league game in five of the last six years (W1), including a 3-2 defeat to Hull in 2023.

• Hull have won their final league game of the year in each of the last two years – they haven't done so in three in a row since doing so between 1981 and 1984 (4).

• John Eustace has won both of his away Championship matches against Hull City (one with Birmingham, one with Blackburn) but has lost his only home game against the Tigers, in December 2022 with the Blues.