Lewis Travis insists he had to leave Blackburn Rovers in January due to Jon Dahl Tomasson but is delighted to be back as captain under John Eustace.

The Rovers skipper left Rovers on loan in the New Year after a fallout with the Danish head coach. It was a move that had terrible optics, with Rovers struggling for experience but willing to send their captain to promotion-chasing Ipswich Town on a temporary deal.

Travis has been reintegrated pretty seamlessly throughout pre-season, with Eustace identifying him as a key player early on. There remains transfer interest from other Championship clubs, with Hull City now joining Sheffield United and Stoke City to have looked at the midfielder.

Unless a serious offer comes in to test the waters, Travis is expected to remain a Rovers player beyond next Friday. In his first interview since leaving, he explained why he had to depart in January.

"It was a rollercoaster, I started the season by winning Player of the Month and then I went to Ipswich," Travis told RoversTV.

"I didn't play as much as I wanted but they got promoted and that was a fantastic achievement and a fantastic experience. I am thankful for that.

"If I take myself back to before the January window, I wasn't wanted here. I wasn't wanted by the manager. 

"I didn't have any other choice. I've never been someone who will just roll on my back if I'm not in the team or not playing well. I wouldn't just say 'I am leaving'.

"I see some fans say that I gave up because I couldn't get in the team. That wasn't the case, I wasn't wanted here so I had to give it a shot somewhere else."

Eustace made it a priority to reintegrate Travis back into the first-team set-up. It became obvious early on that he'd be a first-choice pick alongside Sondre Tronstad in midfield.

That has suited the 26-year-old, who is now back playing where he feels he is best, at the heart of midfield. His early-season performances have been a reminder of the qualities he can bring to Rovers' midfield.

"It's been pretty easy, to be honest, I know everyone here and I had good chats with the gaffer, the assistants and what they want," he explained.

"It's been an easy comeback. The gaffer got in contact straight away and said he likes me as a player, obviously, I've played against his teams loads of times. That was a nice touch.

"He said I'd be wanted here if I wanted to come back and give it a go. I only left because of the manager, I love the football club. For me to come back was a no-brainer.

"John could've looked elsewhere but he wanted me in the building which was great to hear. I've been here nine years, it's been most of my life, I only left for four months.

"I think it suits me, everyone has started the season well. I always think it's very important to start the season well, it sets the standard for the season.

"A lot of people here care about winning in every game. That's the sort of culture you have to breed."

Travis was named captain for 2024/25 having held the armband for the final two games of pre-season. Eustace handed the responsibility around initially before settling on the reigning club captain as the right man to lead the club forward.

"I was only told right at the end, it was only fair for the gaffer to train with me, he might've thought I was an idiot!" he said.

"He left it until the last minute as we saw during pre-season and I think that was only fair. I'm very grateful he gave it to me.

"I came here and Blackburn gave me my chance and to captain a club of this stature means the world to me. I understand after last year that by leaving, it was a tough decision, I didn't expect to come back and be captain.

"The gaffer knows I didn't just roll on my back and give up. I came back for training and pre-season and did my best, now I've been rewarded with it.

"Stepping back out at Ewood was an emotional time because I'm a family-orientated person and my family couldn't come to games as easily because Ipswich is so far away.

"To see the fans and my family in the crowd and to have an amazing team performance, was great.

"I've spoken to a few people and I think Derby was the first time I've played in defensive midfield in nearly a year and a half. I wanted to show everyone that I'm still here and what I can do."