BLACKBURN Rovers defender Darragh Lenihan believes he has come a long way in 12 months but is focussed on looking forward rather than back.

Lenihan had played just 30 games for Rovers prior to this season, but has been a virtual ever present, featuring in 39 of their 44 games in all competitions this term.

The 23-year-old says it has been something of a surprise to feature so regularly, but is preferring to think about the future rather than how far he has come.

“This has been a fantastic year for myself,” the Irishman said.

“This time 12 months ago I couldn’t have imagined I’d have played so many games.

“But I won’t look back, I’ll just look forward, and hopefully in another 12 months I’ll have played similar games.”

Rovers have used 11 different central defensive partnerships so far this season, with Lenihan having played alongside five other partners.

The most used partnership has been Lenihan and Charlie Mulgrew, with Rovers winning four, drawing five, and losing three of their 12 games together, in which they have conceded 16 goals and kept three clean sheets.

But Lenihan, who has also played with Scott Wharton, Tommie Hoban, Gordon Greer and Wes Brown, says he has learned a lot from everyone he has played alongside.

“Football is like that, people get injured and that’s just part and parcel of the game,” he added.

“I just need to focus on myself and as a unit, people looking from the outside could think it has unsettled the back four.

“For me I feel different players you play with you learn each game.

“I haven’t played many games at centre-half, but I feel like every game I have played I am learning about the opposition and by playing with different players I keep learning and improving my game.

“I’ve done okay but I have high standards for myself and when you’re losing games you might come and think, ‘I’ve done alright’, but I want to win games and we should be in the position we are.

“Hopefully we can build on these games left over the coming months, move on and hopefully have a better season next year.”

Rovers are unbeaten in their seven games under Tony Mowbray, and Lenihan has been impressed with the impact the new head has had since replacing Owen Coyle last month.

He added: “The gaffer has been very good in the training sessions in terms of organisation.

“We all know exactly what job we have to do.”