Hughes Wary Of Old Boy

Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes knows Paul Dickov very well, having coached him for over a season before his return to Manchester City in the summer so he is well aware of what Rovers are up against.

Hughes had hoped to keep Dickov at Ewood, but once Manchester City made an interest known it was always likely the former Scottish International would make a return to the club he has such a strong bond with. Hughes would say:

"We'll welcome him back, but hopefully we'll send him on his way with not too much too show for his efforts."

"To be fair to Paul he was excellent for us during his time here, certainly in his first season when we were struggling at the wrong end of the table."

"He was a big factor in us staying up and to his credit; he played most of that season at about 65 or 70 per cent of his true fitness because he was struggling greatly with a groin injury."

"But he kept on making himself available and whenever he went out and played for us, he gave everything he had."

With Dickov being such a popular member of the Rovers squad during his time at Ewood he was always likely to receive a rousing reception. Following his very complimentary comments towards Rovers he will receive an even greater welcome back.

Despite a slow start to the season, with the need for three points maybe not quite crucial yet, but still much needed, I, along with the others who have posted comments on Vital Blackburn see this happening against Manchester City on Sunday.

Hughes would finish by highlighting how performances have improved and how that first win will steady things when he said this:

"We haven't quite managed to pull it all together in one match as yet, but certainly against Salzburg I thought some of our play was excellent."

"We need to get to that level again, and if we keep taking our chances then that first win will come very quickly."

"Once we get the first three points on the board that will settle everybody down, and then we can concentrate on having another successful season."

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