Ryan Hedges hungry to provide more goals at Blackburn Rovers

Hedges kept his cool to beat Angus Gunn with a clever finish after he was played through on goal by Makhtar Gueye.

“It is always a really nice feeling to get off the mark,” he said after the final whistle at Carrow Road.

“It would have been nice to get three points but to come to a really hard away ground and pick up a point is really pleasing at the start of the season.

“That is testament to the lads, the mood in the dressing room is about what could have been. But coming here and getting a point is always a good sign for the season.

“As a front four, we have a licence to express ourselves. I think we have a lot of good players in those areas now and there is always competition for places, so you need to be playing at the top of our game.

“For the goal, it is really good play to hold it up. I have got to try to add goals and assists to my game so the closer I am to goal is always better.

“It was a great weight of pass and I saw the keeper coming and thought I could lift it over him.”

Hedges had a tough season with injuries last term (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)

The 29-year-old got just over an hour under his belt against the Canaries as he continues to build up sharpness following a tough season with injuries.

Hedges featured 18 times last season due to injury and had to spend a number of months on the sidelines.

“It was a hard season for me with the injuries and with the team not doing so well, I wanted to get back and play as much as I could,” he recalled.

“Playing Saturday, Tuesdays and playing as much as you can after being out for four months probably doesn’t go together!

“But we have worked really hard in the off-season and credit to the physios for being in and putting in the work as well.

“It is testament to them and myself that I got back fit for the first game and now I will hopefully reap the rewards for the rest of the season.”

The versatile wideman is pleased to be back in the thick of the action and hopes he can keep building up his minutes.

“Not playing midweek was probably a real help for me, being able to recover properly,” he continued.

“A seven hour journey to Norwich isn’t the best game for your second one! But everybody has to do the trip and it is good to get it out of the way now.

“Hopefully, I can get to the international break and then I’ll be five months post-injury. That will put me in good stead.

“We don’t have a midweek league game until the start of October so that could also be a real help for me to keep gradually build up to 90 minutes.”

Hedges has often played on the right wing for Roves but operated from the left flank at Carrow Road.

“As long as I am on the pitch, I am happy,” he smiled. “I think centre-half and goalkeeper are the only two positions I haven’t played for the club!

“As long as I am on the pitch and can express myself, which is what the manager gives all the players, it is a really good feeling.”

Yuki Ohashi had a big impact off the bench as John Eustace’s men secured a first away point of the campaign.

Hedges believes the squad has more depth this season and is optimistic it will pay off over the coming season as the games come thick and fast.

When asked about Rovers’ options and the potential of further incomings, he replied: “Last season, you probably saw 13 or 14 players playing the majority of games whereas now I think we are a much stronger squad.

“If there are more additions, great. I think there is real competition for places in every area of the pitch, even players on the bench coming on and affecting games.

“Yuki again scoring off the bench, a really good impact. I think that strength in depth is only going to help us because you see how long the season is, you only need three injuries and you can unravel.

“Obviously, the gaffer knows more than me but it is a squad game so hopefully we can get a few more additions.”