Don’t let ‘Mogga’ rove off

CRAIG HIGNETT has told Blackburn they must do all they can to hold on to Tony Mowbray.

Along with several firstteam players, Rovers boss Mowbray is out of contract this summer and has confirmed he is yet to be offered a new deal.

But former Blackburn midfielder Hignett insists ‘Mogga’ – as Mowbray (below) is affectionately known throughout the game – deserves job security regardless of whether he leads Rovers to promotion.

Blackburn were second in the Championship in early February, but are now in a battle to make the play-offs after picking up only 11 points from their past 15 games.

Hignett, however, an academy coach at Middlesbrough when Mowbray was manager at the Riverside, said: “Tony has done a great job at Blackburn. It looked like they were going to be there or thereabouts for an automatic place at one stage.

“But they’ve had injuries and people have gone – Harvey Elliott was on loan from Liverpool last season and Adam Armstrong, with all his goals, went to Southampton. I’d love to see Rovers back in the Premier League.

“Tony is a proper football man. He has principles and plays football the right way.”

Blackburn’s visit to Preston revives memories of their 2001 promotion party. It was Hignett’s corner that Matt Jansen headed in for the only goal of the game as Graeme Souness led Rovers back into the Premier League. ■■BLACKBURN hope to call upon striker Bradley Dack to boost their goal-shy attack against Preston at Deepdale tomorrow night.

Dack is battling to shake off a back injury as Rovers look to stay in the play-off mix after a poor run.

Preston are set to be boosted with Patrick Bauer, Alan Browne and Emil Riis all fit but Ched Evans (toe) is a doubt.