Valerien Ismael has a new Blackburn Rovers hero he can rely on after ‘big’ comeback performance

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Blackburn Rovers picked up an important win over Watford at the weekend, and one player’s performance will have given Valerien Ismael hope for the season ahead.

It’s been an unpredictable and rather disappointing start to the new campaign for Blackburn Rovers. Going into Saturday’s clash with Watford, Valerien Ismael’s team had just one win to their name.

A resilient and gritty display against Ismael’s former side, and a goal from Blackburn’s summer signing Ryoya Morishita, was enough to seal the victory at Vicarage Road.

While Morishita will get all the plaudits after opening his Rovers account, it is the successful return of Scott Wharton that should have Ismael feeling positive about the future.

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Scott Wharton’s triumphant return from injury

Valerien Ismael has not had the luxury of selecting Scott Wharton during his tenure at Ewood Park. The centre-half has been out injured for the last 17 months, but had a comeback to remember on Saturday.

Speaking to the club’s website, Wharton said: “I loved that second half, I properly enjoyed it! That’s a bit of me, that second half! It was a great feeling on a personal level for me, and for the lads, because we deserved that win.

“We were the better team, we had some good chances and congratulations to [Morishita] for making his first start and scoring his first goal. I thought we were in control, even though we didn’t have much of the ball and Watford were coming at us.

“We stood up to the challenge. We put bodies on the line, won first and second balls and it was a proper away Championship win. It was one we deserved.”

On his own road to recovery, Wharton added: “I’ve waited long enough for this… I’ve had a terrible injury and I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym. You have doubts and I was dead nervous ahead of the game. I wanted to put in a good performance.

“Am I going to be the same player? Can I still do it in the Championship? You have bad days and good days, but today was big for me. I just want to stay fit and healthy.

“Today gives me loads of confidence to continue performing and to push on. The gaffer’s been brilliant with me and has backed me all the way. He said that if I keep churning in training, I’ll get my chance. I got it today.”

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Blackburn Rovers need players to follow Scott Wharton’s example

That talk of bodies on the line and being fired up is exactly what Valerien Ismael needs from all his players this season. Wharton has been out of action for so long, but he came back hungrier than ever.

At their worst, Blackburn have lacked that passion and drive. But, with players like Wharton leading by example, there’s no reason Rovers can’t push on and come close to the play-offs again this season.

While signings like Morishita and Andri Gudjohnsen add the firepower needed for any team, it’s players like Wharton that will be the spine of this side.

On the day, Wharton made a whopping seven clearances, blocked one shot, registered two interceptions and one tackle. He also won 80% of his duels, completed 83% of his passes, and even managed to take two shots.

It was a real all-action display from Wharton. If he can keep that up, Ismael will have a selection headache moving forward.