Sky Sports EFL pundit Keith Andrews has suggested that Blackburn Rovers defender Darragh Lenihan has started to really demonstrate his importance to Tony Mowbray’s side over the last few weeks, amid Rovers’ injury problems.

Blackburn managed to maintain their recent upward momentum with a 2-0 win at Charlton Athletic on Saturday, which saw Mowbray’s side move to within three points of the Championship play-off places – and that saw them extend their run to just one defeat in their last seven league games.

Lenihan has been an instrumental figure during the last few months, with Rovers having lost the creative talents of the influential Bradley Dack and Lewis Holtby, but the defender’s presence in the side has enabled Blackburn to continue to be solid in defence and provide a platform for them to secure wins on a consistent basis.

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Speaking to Sky Sports' latest EFL podcast, Andrews revealed that he believes Lenihan has been one of Blackburn’s key performers for the last few years now, but that injuries to some of the club’s most important attacking players has highlighted the defender’s value to the side.

He said: "And Darragh Lenihan whenever he's been missing it's been telling on the results for Blackburn, this is going back over the last two or three seasons they drastically missed his presence in the team.

"Even going back to the game they had against Wigan going back for the League One title at the time, he just sets the tone by a smashing tackle just to set the tone for the whole performance.

"I think they've built on that and they've got decent options still in the attacking areas, but to be where they are without Bradley Dack is a really good achievement and they're still well in the hunt."

The verdict

Lenihan has been a highly influential presence to Blackburn’s defence throughout the campaign, with the defender having featured in all but six of Rovers’ 33 league games so far this season, in which he has helped to provide a calming and reliable presence at the heart of their defence.

The 25-year-old has continued to improve with each passing season under Mowbray, who has given Lenihan the chance to impressive with a consistent run of form at the heart of Rovers’ defence, with the defender having previously been used in both midfield and the back four due to his versatility.

Having been given the platform to establish himself in a position, Lenihan has thrived and become a vital member of Rovers’ spine, and his presence will be ever more important during the rest of the campaign, as Blackburn look to continue their recent form and mount a play-off challenge.

Lenihan is a player who has somewhat gone under the radar at Rovers over the last few years, with Dack’s quality in possession and in the attacking third meaning he has received much of the plaudits, but in the midfielder’s absence the 25-year-old could finally be starting to get the recognition he deserves.