SHOULD Steven Reid get a place in the starting eleven against Wigan Athletic tomorrow, it will be the end of a very long and difficult road for the Rovers star.

Not only will it be Reid's 100th appearance in a Rovers shirt, it will be the end of 15 months of injury and heartbreak.

The last time Reid started a Premier League game was August 27, 2006 as Rovers went down 2-0 to Chelsea at Ewood Park.

And almost 16 months later, after a back injury, a cruciate knee ligament injury and countless other niggles, the Republic of Ireland international says he's ready to help Rovers battle for a place in the top six.

He said: "Before I got injured, I'd had a decent run in the team and we'd finished sixth in the league and everything was looking rosy. I'd signed a new contract in the summer and then the injuries set in and over a year later it takes its toll.

"It made me mentally stronger. If you can come through 15 months of so many ups and downs it's got to make you a stronger person and hopefully that can go out with me onto the pitch and make me a better player as well.

"I had my baby daughter Isla a year ago, and that's been a big help. It's given me more responsibilities and it does mature you. Life at home's been brilliant, my girlfriend and my family have been brilliant as well as the manager and the fans around the club and that's a big thing. To know everyone is behind you, it gives you a massive lift."

The 26-year-old admitted he had spent long periods slogging on his own as he pounded the long road to fitness, but admitted some of his team-mates had helped him along the way.

He said: "To have Sav and Andre in there for three or four months, although it wasn't nice for them, really helped. We helped each other and they got back before me and that was a difficult time for me.

"Sav was good as gold. He's not in the best of moods when he's injured but the daily banter was brilliant with Sav and Andre and you need people in there like that to keep you going through the hard times."

Reid made his return to first team action against Fulham at the end of last month - a return that even took Reid by surprise.

He added: "It was unbelievable. I just travelled down with the squad to be back involved with the squad. And when Eddie (Niedzwiecki) told me that I was going to be on the bench it was an unbelievable feeling. I couldn't get the smile of my face.

"It was an unbelievable feeling and I was that full of adrenaline that I didn't think of anything else.

"And to get on was brilliant. I was in the programme room on the Monday watching my five minutes. It was just good to be back out there and luckily I've followed that up with a few more appearances."

With Rovers visiting the JJB tomorrow, memories of Reid's wonder goal against the Latics spring to mind on New Year's Eve 2005.

And Reid said he would love to produce a repeat if he plays a part tomorrow.

He added: "It was the highlight of my career at Blackburn and hopefully you can see something similar on Saturday."