Jon Dahl Tomasson has been impressed with James Hill's leadership qualities in his early time at Blackburn Rovers.

The defender joined on loan from Bournemouth at the end of the transfer window but has already caught the eye with his vocal approach in training and in-house games.

Hill is still waiting for his first Championshop start but came on as a late substitue against Middlesbrough last weekend. Despite being only 21, Tomasson has been pleasantly surprised by the impact he's made in the group already.

"I think he played a very good game against Rochdale, he was very loud, you can hear him," Tomasson told The Lancashire Telegraph last week. "I think he is a bit of a leader.

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"He's a young boy but I gave him the opportunity to give four presentations to get used to the way I think about football and I think he did really well.

"He is very mature, it's something new that he hadn't done. It's important what you do on the pitch and he's doing well. 

"If you have a little voice control and that makes it even better. He is unproven at this level but he's done well at Hearts and Fleetwood. He is hungry and gives a good energy to the group."

Hill was used as a holding midfielder in the closing stages against Boro but is competing with Hayden Carter and Dom Hyam for a place at centre-back. The two defenders have formed a strong paternship in 2023.

The 21-year-old is applying pressure though and after conceding three goals in midweek, plus a busy schedule, Tomasson could consider rotating his defence against the Tractor Boys.

Joe Rankin-Costello is the other player applying pressure at full-back. Callum Brittain has been a standout performer but hasn't played three matches in seven days this calendar years. Harry Pickering could also be rotated with Brittain able to play at left-back.