In terms of a summer transformation, few have developed as much as Harry Leonard.

The Blackburn Rovers striker made his Championship debut at the end of last season with Jon Dahl Tomasson suffering a crisis up front. Despite calls from the fans to throw him in, the head coach resisted the urge and held him back.

That might have been the best thing for Leonard's development. It's been a completely different scenario just a few months on.

The 19-year-old has started four of Rovers' seven Championship games, scoring twice, and 'learning on the job', as Tomasson says. It's an opportunity he is grabbing though, leading the line and battling with snarling, experience centre-halves.

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With Sam Gallagher facing six weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury, there is a vacancy up front. With Niall Ennis also out, it's a straight shoot-out between Leonard and Gallagher for that starting berth.

Whilst Leonard would never wish ill on a team-mate, he concedes that in football, sometimes things have to fall for you. It's his job now to open the door that has been left ajar.

"It's been massive for me," Leonard tells The Lancashire Telegraph. "I came with the aim from pre-season to get in the team.

"At the start of pre-season, it would have been tough because there is a lot of competition in that position but I just had to back myself.

"I've just tried to do as well as possible and work hard in training and try to be around the team. Last season, I played for the 21s, I was still young and it was my first year training with the first team.

"I learned a lot in that, learning the gaffer's style. It is not easy to get used to. To start the games I have, and chip in with a couple of goals, has been good. I want to kick on and keep doing that.

"I think football is like that, you need some luck. It's no good Gally being out injured, we want him back as soon as possible.

"You do need a bit of luck in football. I try to take the opportunities when they do come and I'll try my best to do that."

Leonard had the dream start to the season with a first goal at Ewood Park against West Brom. Rotherham and Watford brought different challenges and fewer sights of goal.

After a break out of the side amid Gallagher's return, Leonard is now refreshed and back on the score sheet. His header showed good movement to steal a few yards on the defender.

Leonard admitted that even just a few games without notching can play on the mind and so he was delighted to find the equaliser on Wednesday night.

"Goals are massive for confidence," Leonard said. "I went three of our games without a goal and it does play on your mind. 

"If you keep getting in those positions, you are just waiting for one to hit the back of the net," he said. "The style of football we play, you will always create chances. It's great to play in."

He added: "Signing a new deal was a very easy decision for me. There is nowhere else I would want to be. 

"There are lots of lads who have come through the academy system who are playing week in, week out. Signing a long-term deal, there is a really good pathway here and I have to kick on."