Blackburn Rovers: Hayden Carter keen to play in run-in

The defender hasn’t featured since picking up a hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw against Huddersfield in January but is now back in full training.

Carter had been a regular starter at Ewood Park prior to the injury and can’t wait to be back on the pitch.

“It has been a while since I have been in proper training so it is good to be back out there,” he told RoversTV.

“Hopefully, I can hit the ground running and help the team in the remaining games. Obviously, you can’t replicate training or games during the rehab sessions.

"(The break) has come at a good time, it gives me an extra week of training to get my fitness levels back up. I am using this time to get as ready as I can.

“(My leg) feels strong, it is actually stronger than the other one now so hopefully there will be no repeat of the injury. My body feels good, I feel fit and ready to go.”

It was an innocuous injury, occurring as Carter jumped for a header in the box, but the 24-year-old knew “straight away” it wasn’t something he could run off.

“The physios have done really well to get me back into training this early,” he continued. “When it first happened, I was told 11 or 12 weeks so I think I have taken two-and-a-half-weeks off that.

“I have been in the physio room a lot and working hard, and thankfully I have got more games than I thought.

Carter picked up the injury against Huddersfield (Image: Camerasport)

“I have done my hamstring before in the past, but not as bad as this, and that was from sprinting. When I jumped, I thought ‘surely not?’ I have never heard of anyone doing it from jumping, but I knew straight away.

“That is why I stayed down, there was no point even trying (to carry on). But I have worked hard to get back to this point and now I have just got to get match ready.

“It was quite hard to take at first. No-one wants to be missing for games, especially for the length of time I was. But I have got past that now and am just looking forward to getting back out there.”

Carter’s return to training is a boost for the Rovers squad heading into an important block of games.

“As we have seen in the Championship, every game is tough,” he insisted. “It doesn’t matter if you are playing teams fighting at the bottom or the promotion favourites.

“The lads have been giving it their all and I will do the same. Hopefully, we can get out of where we are now.

“(The season) started quite well and we have had a couple of good cup runs. Now, we just need to grind out results, forget about what has happened and take each game as it comes.

“Hopefully, we can end the season on a high and pick up wins.”

The centre-back has watched from the sidelines since John Eustace took charge and believes the side is heading in the right direction.

“I think we look solid as a team,” he added. “We saw at Middlesbrough, we were getting chances as well and I feel like if we can keep that up, we will definitely get some wins.

“Momentum is a big thing in football, and hopefully we can get a win against Ipswich and then kick on from there.”

Carter has come a long way at Rovers since making his debut at the back end of the 2019/20 campaign.

He is keen to keep improving and make the most of any opportunities that come his way in the coming weeks.

“I think I developed quite a lot under the previous manager and hopefully I can do the same under (Eustace). I played a lot of games before the injury which I am happy about,” said the defender.

“There was a period before the injury where I wasn’t at my best but that happens in football. Hopefully, I can come back for the last few games and get back to my high standards.

“I am always proud to play for Blackburn. I have been at the club for 10 years now and they have helped me a lot.

“I just want to play as much as I can and try to help the club to repay them for everything they have done for me.”