Dilan Markanday says his injury devastation was hard to process but the positivity since returning to Brockhall has been a big lift for the January signing.

Markanday had to undergo surgery after damaging his hamstring only minutes into his Rovers debut at Hull City in January, just 24 hours after signing from Tottenham Hotspur.

Rovers making it into the play-offs could give Markanday an outside chance of featuring again this season, but he’s not looking too far ahead in his recovery.

But his outlook is a more positive one after the initial disappointment that he would be out for an extended period so soon after making the move to Ewood.

He said: “I’ll not pretend that the next day I was like ‘yeah, come on, let’s go’ because I want to play football, I was devastated.

“The first couple of weeks were hard. You always play through your head, what if I didn’t make that run, if I turned back and passed it, it wouldn’t have happened, but you can’t think like that.

“The first couple of weeks I was down, but when you come back into the building and people are saying positive things that helps, and that’s where I’m at.

“The first couple of weeks are always the hardest. The things you can do and the exercises you can do are limited.

“Five weeks post operation, we’re starting to build things up, build up my core, it’s about building week by week, making those marginal gains and hopefully can ramp it up more soon.”

His work was limited in the days after his injury but he has gradually built up his workload in the gym and hopes there can be physical improvements to come out of the disappointment of being out of the side.

The 20-year-old was upset at not being able to show what he could offer after his £500,000 switch, with manager Tony Mowbray and the club’s supporters all excited by his arrival.

Yet now Markanday has got his head around his injury situation, he feels he can have a role to play off the pitch, while his time hasn’t been wasted, feeling 'more settled into the group' after making the move north.

He added: “I just wanted to show the fans what I can do, the manager, the players, gain their trust.

“I just wanted to play football, show what I can do and help the team but this has prevented me from being able to do that.

“It’s hard to explain, you’re devastated and realise for the next few months you’re not going to be able to help the team.

“You feel useless watching but I’ll be there to support them all the way, that’s all I can do, give them my support in the changing room and around the building.”

Markanday was a regular among the goals for Spurs Under-23s, with 12 in 14 Premier League appearances alongside five assists, which led to him being handed his first-team debut by the club in October.

He was handed his Rovers debut at Hull the day after his signing was confirmed, but immediately knew something was wrong when dribbling with the ball late on.

Markanday was grateful for the messages received from supporters when news of his injury lay-off broke, and also says the club have been fully supportive of him in his rehabilitation period.

Trying to use his lay-off as a positive, he told the club website: “The mental side is more difficult than the physical.

“Moving away from home, you’re by yourself, you’re lonely, you’re coping with an injury , there’s lots of things going around your head.

“There’s a lot of good people around the club to support me, everyone is so kind and friendly, which I’m grateful for.

“I definitely feel more settled into the group, making some good bonds.

“When you’re not playing you get to see how the team are playing from a different perspective.

“When you’re in it it’s hard to see it, but from the side you get to see and feel and understand the club.”

At 20, and having signed a long-term deal with the club, there is plenty of time for Markanday to make a mark at Rovers, and says he’ll use his time away as extra motivation for when he does get back on the pitch.

“These obstacles and hurdles will make you stronger in the long run so I have to use it as fuel and motivation for when I come back to hit the ground running and show everyone and come back a stronger and better player and more mentally strong person,” he explained.