Niall Ennis is desperate to kickstart his Blackburn Rovers career after making his first Championship start for the club.

The summer signing has endured a very difficult run with injuries since signing on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle. That has limited his involvement in the league, with his only start previously in the Carabao Cup.

Ennis was thrown in from the start by Jon Dahl Tomasson against Bristol City, playing the first half before being withdrawn in a pre-planned change.

The 24-year-old forward was pleased to be back out playing in the Championship and insists there is plenty more to come from him.

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"It was good, I enjoyed it, to be fair," Ennis told RoversTV. "It was already planned about coming off at half-time.

"It was just about running, the gaffer says he wants us to run, wants us to press. It's just about doing what the gaffer wants us to do. I enjoyed it.

"I haven't played as much so it's about getting my sharpness back. That comes through playing so the more I play, the more I'll get my sharpness back. I'm just grateful the gaffer gave me the confidence.

"You can train and you'll get the load from that but nothing compares to matches, that's where it matters. I am happy he put his faith in me and I got through it.

"I felt fit enough to carry on but it was already pre-planned. I'd rather come off fit than overdo it. I'm just back from injury, I'm fit and available for the weekend, that's all that matters."

Ennis has been handed a series of setbacks. He arrived at the club with a groin injury, then picked up a knee complaint before suffering a hamstring issue in a recent Under-21s match.

All of that has meant he's spent more time in the gym than at Ewood Park. After getting his first start on Tuesday, the aim for him is staying fit and available.

"The main thing for me is staying fit," he explained. "I signed here to play football, I don't want to be in the gym. I will be doing the right things off the pitch to maintain that and playing is what I enjoy doing. I want to help the team, get goals and help us get to where we want to be.

"It's about staying on the pitch now. I enjoyed last night and I want to improve on that.

"It's been frustrating, I want to play but I've had little injuries. "When you come to a hospital like we have today, it puts life into perspective. 

"It's an injury, it's a little bump in the road. I am fit now and there are worse things going on. I am fit and I want to be playing, that's all I am focused on."

Rovers are just two points off the play-off places ahead of a very difficult assignment at Southampton on Saturday. The Saints sit fourth in the table and have been on a good run of form, unbeaten in 13 games.

After back-to-back defeats, beating Bristol City was important to get the team back on track. Though the performance wasn't their best of the season, Ennis insists results are most important, especially over the congested festive period.

"You can't be 100 per cent every game, you can't be perfect," he said. "Especially when it's Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday, this festive part of the season is about results. We want the performance and results but the results are the main thing.

"In a few months, we won't look back and think we played well. The main thing is getting the win. It will be a big game, we have to be up for it."