Danny Batth has been impressed with Hayden Carter since his arrival at Rovers and backed his fellow defender to keep improving.

Carter has had a strong start to the campaign, starting all six Championship fixtures and helping keep clean sheets against Bristol City and Preston North End.

Batth praised his team-mate’s strong “mentality” and reckons Ewood Park is the perfect place for him to kick on.

“I think he has (a high ceiling). He has started the season really well,” said the former Norwich man.

“There are still elements he will work on, like every player, he will be critical of himself and want to improve every game.

“With that mentality, you don’t know where you can go in the game. Obviously, Blackburn is a great place to be for him to showcase that ability and keep performing as he is.”

Batth has started the past couple of league games in the backline and is excited by Rovers’ start to the campaign.

The 34-year-old says there is a strong togetherness in the camp and believes that will be important over the course of the season.

“Everyone in the building is dialled-in, focused and looking forward to each game. There is a togetherness growing and we want to keep improving on that,” he added.

“With the lads we have brought in and the lads who were already here, the journey the club is on, we will pull together regardless of results.

Batth has started the past couple of league gamesBatth has started the past couple of league games (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth)

“There might be a bump in the road along the way or a bad run of form, but we are all experienced to know what to do in those situations.”

Rovers have taken 12 points from their opening six league matches – a total only bettered by West Brom, Sunderland and Burnley at this early stage.

When asked if confidence was high in the dressing room, Batth replied: “I think it is more of a belief than a confidence.

“It is not talked about really, we just go onto the next game, try to do everything right in the week, do all our homework and prepare in the best possible way we can. Then, the performance and result should take care of itself.

“We have got a lot of different (strings to our bow), we have a lot of different players who can come off the bench and change a game.

“We work tirelessly on the training pitch to try to nail our gameplan and strategy.

“That can change at any moment, and it did in the Burnley game, so you have to be prepared. The players on the pitch have to take control of the game and thankfully, in that game we did.”

It has been a hectic start to life at Ewood Park the experienced defender, who was without a club for most of pre-season.

Batth initially attracted interest from Rovers in the summer of 2023, but an agreement was not reached at the time and he went on to spent the campaign at Norwich, playing 19 times for the Canaries.

“I was lucky to go to Wolves and train there, working with high-quality players and staff so that really helped me,” he explained.

“The initial few weeks, you have a programme to stick to but after that, when the lads are back at training and your programme runs out, your are thinking, ‘What am I doing next?’

“They were great for me, having me back there. I managed to keep a good level of fitness ready to come here.

“I was made to feel really welcome. I had not been back there for a while but it was a building I was in from the age of nine, it was a second home really.

“Going back was great and thanks to them for all their help. I am delighted now to be here in good fitness and looking forward to what is next.”

A year on from the initial interest, it was a no-brainer for the centre-back to make the move to East Lancashire.

“I was in a situation at Sunderland where I had to explore other options,” Batth recalled.

“Blackburn had finished just behind Sunderland (on goal difference) so it was a great option, but it didn’t happen.

“I went to Norwich and put everything into doing well for them, I thought I did OK when I played for them. I am here now and excited to be a big part of this going forward.

“After speaking to the manager and knowing the lads had a tough season, I felt like a could add something to the squad and help on and off the pitch.

“It is not an easy thing to walk away from when a club like Blackburn say they are interested. You have to listen and I am thankful I am here now.”