Blackburn Rovers swooped to sign Barry Douglas on loan from Leeds United in the summer transfer window, as the left-back's opportunities narrowed at Elland Road. 

Leeds won promotion last season and Douglas' role was a limited one. Injuries meant he struggled to nail down a place in the side under Marcelo Bielsa in the Championship and he missed out on every Premier League squad in the opening month of the season.

Ewood Park was his destination on loan late in the window, which leads us into this particular The Hat-Trick feature...

How's it gone so far?

It's been tough for Douglas, who has - not for the first time in the last couple of years - found himself luckless.

He has made two appearances for Tony Mowbray in the Championship, completing 61 minutes of the 4-0 win over Coventry City, as well as 90 in the 4-2 defeat to Reading.

However, what followed was a period of isolation, which robbed Douglas the chance to build on those appearances heading into the November international break.

Yesterday, he featured for 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Sheffield United as he prepares himself to be back in contention.

What issues does he face?

As mentioned, Douglas' luck has been rotten over the last couple of seasons and the main thing for him is going to be getting an extended run free of injuries or other complications.

It must feel like a lifetime since Douglas was injury free for a good period of time and it's denied him regular football.

He's got competition for a place from Amari'i Bell at left-back, as well as Derrick Williams, although he's been utilised as a centre-back this season. Joe Rankin-Costello is another Douglas has to go up against for a place in the side.

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What's next?

Given competition for places and Douglas battling for a run free of injury, the next step for the 31-year-old is nailing down a place in Mowbray's best XI.

A turbulent start to the season means Blackburn have rarely had a settled XI, but with no international football for a while now, it's a chance for Mowbray to get things right.

Douglas is only on loan and he's out of contract at Leeds in the summer. In many ways, he's playing for his future.

He needs to break into the starting line-up and stay there.