Blackburn Rovers

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New Blackburn Rovers midfielder Sam Morsy was a "critical signing" for the club as they prepare for the start of the Championship season, says boss Tony Mowbray.

The former Ipswich Town captain, who joined Blackburn on Monday on a one-year deal, will be chasing a 600th professional appearance in his time at Ewood Park.

"The team needed more manliness really, an experienced man, somebody who was more animated and I would say Sam is animated on the pitch," Mowbray said.

"His voice is very evident every day, he doesn't give the ball away very often, he's got a really good use of his body to protect the ball.

"I think he's a critical signing for the club and will prove over the period how important he's going to be."

Meanwhile, Mowbray said striker Mathias Jorgensen is "not too far away" from a return but won't make it in time for Rovers' league opener at Wolves on Friday (20:00 BST).

Defender Scott Wharton and forward Augustus Kargbo have both trained as they make their way back from their respective injuries.

Watch the full interview below or listen on BBC Sounds here.

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The Championship campaign kicks off on Friday night as Blackburn head to newly-relegated Wolves (20:00 BST).

Both sides made winning starts to the campaign in the EFL Cup first round last weekend but it's a first league game in the dugout for Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto while Tony Mowbray begins his second spell in charge of Rovers.

Wanderers have lost their past five opening day games while Blackburn had won four straight before going down 1-0 at West Brom to start last season.

• Wolverhampton Wanderers are unbeaten in their past eight league meetings with Blackburn Rovers (W4 D4), drawing both games the last time they met in 2016-17.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost just one of their past nine away league games against Wolverhampton Wanderers (W2 D6), with their last two visits to Molineux both finishing 0-0 (April 2016 and April 2017).

• Wolves ended the Premier League last season losing just one of their final six home games (W2 D3), earning more points in that time (9) than in their previous 15 at Molineux (6 – W1 D3 L11).

• 59.6% of Blackburn's points in the EFL Championship last season came away from home (31/52), the highest proportion; Rovers finished 2025-26 winning three of their final five matches on the road (D1 L1).

• New Wolves signing, Rafiki Saïd, attempted more take-ons than any other player in the Belgian Pro League last season (171), completing 69 of them, while leading the competition for shots following a take-on (16) and behind only Nacho Ferri (2.69) for xG from a take-on (2.61).

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Former Ipswich Town midfielder Sam Morsy, 31, is having a medical at Blackburn Rovers on Monday and the Egyptian's move is expected to be completed in time for the Championship opener against Wolves on Friday. (Sky Sports), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Monday's full gossip column here.

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Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor

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When you're drawn away in the first round of the EFL Cup against lower-league opposition, the two most important things are to come home with a victory and without injury. Blackburn Rovers did both.

This was never going to be a straightforward task for Rovers, but they could and should have made it easier for themselves.

When the match stats show 27 attempts at the Burton goal and 41 touches inside the opposition penalty area, the fact that it took until the 81st minute to level the tie will be a legitimate concern for Tony Mowbray.

In fact, despite their dominance, both keepers were forced into the same number of saves, totalling five.

Falling behind to a set-piece goal has been a problem in the past and was again. It was a scruffy goal to concede, where they just couldn't defend the second ball. Zac Scutt was left all on his own to convert from close range.

Close-range headers from Yuki Ohashi and Dapo Afolayan from excellent right-wing deliveries flew over the bar, Todd Cantwell missed a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and other less straightforward attempts failed to register in the first half. It was clear post-match that the head coach was less than impressed.

"We should have scored four or five goals in the first half, not could have. Should have, really. They're too much of guilt-edged chances for them not to score, I feel," Mowbray said.

It's that lack of a clinical edge that concerns Mowbray most as he begins his second spell in charge.

During his first stint at Ewood Park, he could call on players such as Bradley Dack at his best, a rapid Adam Armstrong, a teenage Harvey Elliott, a seasoned focal point like Danny Graham with a set-piece specialist Charlie Mulgrew to create opportunities. This squad is different.

There is talent there, without doubt, but Mowbray remains convinced he needs more. It's a message he has made clear to the club's owners, Venky's, in recent days.

Mowbray said: "I'm greedy for good players, as I keep saying to Rudy (Gestede, head of football operations). It doesn't matter to me where they come from or what age they are. I want to see personality on the pitch, players who are desperate to win and be really good at what they do on the pitch."

This cup tie was won by the introduction from the bench of substitutes Andri Gudjohnsen and Jayden Fevrier. The latter scored on his competitive debut with a trademark check inside from the right onto his favoured left foot to curl home an excellent winner.

If Mowbray gets his wish, there could be more new faces in the building before Friday's trip to Wolves.

Sam Morsy appears the most likely arrival. Even at this stage of his career, he would bring leadership, grit and experience to the squad.

Alan Browne is another name doing the rounds. If Rovers can get that deal done on loan, he would look a very useful addition too.

The flip side, of course, is that arrivals will mean departures, or at least some difficult conversations. Bring in another two or three players and the squad starts to look overcrowded. When September arrives and the 25-man squad has to be finalised, some players are going to miss out.

Big decisions are on the horizon.

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AFC Fylde have signed Blackburn Rovers midfielder Zack Stritch on a season-long loan.

Stritch, 21, was a member of the Blackburn under-21 side last season but spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Curzon Ashton in the National League North.

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Blackburn Rovers have expressed interest in signing Republic of Ireland full-back Will Ferry from Scottish Premiership side Dundee United, though Belgian club Anderlecht are also ready to table a £2.2m bid for the 25-year-old. (Courier - subscription required), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Friday's full gossip column here.

Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with your club's latest news.

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Gary Bowyer has said Blackburn is a "special" club for him as Burton Albion prepare to host Rovers at the Pirelli Stadium in the EFL Cup on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Bowyer learned much of his trade at Ewood Park, having first joined as the under-18s coach in 2004. He then went on to have two separate stints as caretaker manager before being appointed permanently in 2013.

Bowyer was dismissed in November 2015, bringing to an end over a decade at the club.

"The club is special to me," Bowyer said.

"I had an incredible time there. To have been involved in one club for so long going through your coaching career is very rare these days.

"From Graeme Souness, who just had the charisma, to Mark Hughes, to Sam Allardyce, to Paul Ince - unbelievable managers to pick brains from."

Watch the full interview with BBC Radio Lancashire below or on BBC Sounds here

Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth could leave the club this summer. The 28-year-old has one year left on his contract but has turned down a new deal and Blackburn do not want to lose the Hungarian for free next year. (The 72), external

For more EFL transfer rumours, read Monday's full gossip column here.

Don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with your club's latest news.

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Aodhan Doherty has joined Falkirk on a season-long loan as the Northern Ireland Under-21 winger signed a new four-year contract with Blackburn Rovers.

The 20-year-old had played 14 times for Linfield in Northern Ireland's top flight before joining the Championship club last summer and made his first-team debut for Rovers against Hull city in the FA Cup in January, before featuring in three league games later the same month.

But he is now looking for more regular first-team football.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn says Doherty is not just a straight replacement on the left for Calvin Miller, who was sold to Hearts this summer, as he can play as a number 10 as well as out wide.

"He's a player we've been on the lookout for and have been scouting for some time," he told his club website.

"We've been trying to get him up here as soon as possible, so we're delighted to get him here now ahead of the league season starting next week."

Doherty will start on the bench against Stranraer in Falkirk's final Premier Sports Cup group-stage game on Saturday.

"It's another part of the rebuild of the squad and we're hoping to bring some more news on another one next week," McGlynn said.

"Buzzing" with his new Rovers contract and loan move, Doherty told Blackburn's website: "I'm just very grateful for the trust and belief that the club has shown in me and I'm ready to keep pushing on.

"Having that experience of being with the first team last season helped me a lot in terms of what I need to do and how I need to play to stay at that level.

"The main thing for me now is getting first-team exposure and playing plenty of games in the Premiership will really benefit me."

Blackburn Rovers face stiff competition from a string of Championship clubs to sign Sunderland midfielder Alan Browne, who spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough. However, Boro are not expected to explore another deal for the 31-year-old. (Lancashire Telegraph), external

Want to read more transfer rumours? Check out Friday's full gossip column here.

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Blackburn Rovers have promoted Damien Johnson to assistant head coach and head of player development.

The 47-year-old former Northern Ireland international had been working as first-team technical coach after moving up from leading the Championship club's under-21 side.

Johnson joined Blackburn as a player from Portadown in 1997, going on to make 81 appearances before signing for Birmingham City in 2002.

He returned to Ewood Park as an academy coach in 2015, twice stepping into the role of interim head coach in 2024 and February this year and was first-team technical coach and head of player development in 2019 during boss Tony Mowbray's first spell in charge.

"Tony's a fantastic guy. I had a really strong relationship with him when he was first here and I've kept in touch with him," Johnson told the Rovers website., external

"He's come through his health issues and now he's fighting fit and I'm delighted that he's come back."

Blackburn open the new Championship season at Wolves on Friday, 14 August (20:00 BST)