James Hill is one of the first names on the Blackburn Rovers team sheet after a brilliant run of form.

The Bournemouth loanee had to bide his time for an opportunity but has grabbed it with both hands since coming into the team. Playing slightly out of position at right-back, the young defender has made a massive difference to the team.

Coming in as a third centre-back in build-up, Hill has shown maturity beyond his age. The numbers tell the story too, just two goals conceded in the four games he has started, with two clean sheets.

With each game, his performances have improved. He has the build of a centre-back but the athleticism to offer a threat going forward and match tricky wingers at full-back. 

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On the ball, he showed his quality with a raking pass to Callum Brittain to set up the winning goal at The Den. It was fantastic vision and technique from a player that’s incredibly highly rated on the South Coast.

He is the latest young player to grow into the shirt at Rovers. Even if they don’t own this one, there is pride from the supporters in watching this team grow in stature.

It would’ve been easy to crumble at Millwall; a goal down after three minutes in an intimidating atmosphere but Rovers stuck to their principles and got their rewards. 

“I thought we did very well in the first half,” Hill said. “It’s a poor first goal to concede but we got back into the game. We carried on doing the right things.

“We never swerved from our game plan. We carried on, trying to play forward and playing into those dangerous areas. That kept us going and then in the second half we defended really well as a team tonight.

“Teams can go behind here and really lose it and lose by a big score. It was a mature performance; it’s well-spoken about the age of our team but the last three games have been very good. It’s massive improvements, we look more solid out of possession, and we look dangerous going forward.

“The improvement is there, we feel stronger at the back. There have been a mature performance and we are taking that into each game. We have to make sure that is consistent now.”

Rovers now have a team of right-backs, much to the amusement of everyone. The combinations between Hill, Callum Brittain and Joe Rankin-Costello have grown with each game and yielded both goals at The Den.

Hill was full of praise for his team-mate stationed in front of him, with both playing slightly out of position. His pass may have opened the pitch up but there was plenty for Brittain still to do. The finish didn’t resemble that of a player that hadn’t scored in four years.

“To be fair, I give a lot of credit to Cal for making the run, we spoke a lot about the space on the opposite side at half-time,” Hill explained. “It came out on the matchday and when you listen to your team-mates it’s good.

“We can’t take away anything from Cal, it’s a great chop and he’s put it in the top bins. It was unbelievable for him. I think we said in training he was due a goal so I am happy for him, he played really well tonight, he was outstanding in that right-wing area.

“It’s not a natural position for him but he’s been outstanding, as has the whole team. I give credit to them all, even when we were 1-0 down, we were together as a team and the fans were behind us. We’re a young team but we’re all hungry and we want to get those results in the games coming.”

“I think we are all playing a little out of position but it’s an opportunity to play. When the gaffer gives us that chance, we have to do the job he sets for us. Everyone wants to play and that’s what we learn in training.

“We are bonding as a team, we’re getting to know each other and that takes time. The goals we were conceding, we are now leaking less and we look even more solid as a team and we are getting results.”

“We’re all still learning, myself included. We’re young and in training, we are putting in the work to make sure the defensive side is sorted. The work rate was outstanding from the first blow of the whistle to the last.”

“Everyone thinks they have the ability to play and they do so we have to perform in games and training, we have to keep standards high,” he added. “Everyone backs everyone, whoever is wearing the shirt. Massive credit to Scott Wharton for coming on, what a performance.

“We have loads of players hungry to come in, that’s what is amazing about this group. In training, we are working on different things.

“It’s a responsibility to play in that position and I am trying to do that to the best of my ability. I want to keep performing at a high level to keep my place.”