Confirmed: Blackburn appoint former Aston Villa manager as Gary Bowyer replacement

And new boss Paul Lambert says the prolific frontman will be as important to him at Rovers as Christian Benteke was when he was in charge at Aston Villa.

One player Lambert will be desperately keen to keep at Ewood Park is striker Jordan Rhodes, a player the new manager holds in the highest regard.

“I’ve had nine months out and I’ve enjoyed it, but now is the time to go back in”.

“I’m excited to get into training again and I’m excited for the game on Saturday”.

“Nine months out was a long time but probably the most productive nine months I’ve had in football”.

“I know the situation that is happening here, I’m comfortable with it, the owners have been great and the club is working ever so hard behind the scenes to come out, which I’m pretty sure they will”.

“Stepping back from it was probably the best thing that happened to myself”.

Sky Bet have tipped the Scottish manager to be the favourite to take over at Blackburn [as per Sky Sports], who recently parted ways with Gary Bowyer.

Rovers hope to have their Football League-imposed transfer ban lifted soon to give Lambert a chance to strengthen his squad in the January window.

Blackburn Rovers remain “one sale away” from being released from their FFP embargo – but insist star striker Jordan Rhodes is still not for sale.

But the Scot will not allow any potential lack of funding to be used as an excuse. “We have to win games”.

Then again, he’d have agreed with ex-boss Tim Sherwood that this season was going to be tougher than ever when you lose your captain and top goalscorer before the campaign has even got underway.

Rovers have not been able to buy players since December 2014 after breaching the Football League’s financial fair play rules, but managing director Derek Shaw hinted Lambert could soon have funds to spend. “We have other irons in the fire which hopefully will clear us from that”.