Whitehall signs new Blackburn contract after injury

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Whitehall played nine games for the U21s on his return from injury last season

Blackburn Rovers midfielder Isaac Whitehall has signed a new one-year contract at Ewood Park.

Whitehall, 22, who has been with the club since he was 12, also has the option of a further season.

Having missed over two-and-a-half years with a foot injury, he is targeting a first-team return after appearing for the Under-21s last term.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a fresh start,鈥 he said. 鈥淗opefully I can get a good full pre-season, building my game time and fitness, and hopefully I can have a full season.

鈥淚 felt like I did well in the games I played towards the back end of last season. I played four 90 minutes and didn鈥檛 really feel out of place. I thought I did really well.

鈥淪o it鈥檚 just a case of keeping fit, trying not to pick up too many niggles, and keep building on everything that I鈥檝e been doing.

鈥淭hose games last season got me back to the feeling of when I was younger, just playing football and enjoying it. I tried not to care too much about anything else, literally just being back playing is what I wanted.

鈥淢y first thought and main aim for this season is to get into the first team. But I still need game time, so it might be a case of playing games here until January, but I certainly wouldn鈥檛 be against going out on loan if the opportunity arose.

鈥淚t would mean the absolute world to me to make my first-team debut here. It would show that all the hard work and the tough times have come to something good. That is my aim.鈥