Lewis Miller reflects on his first Blackburn Rovers season | Lancashire Telegraph

Lewis Miller is hopeful that Blackburn Rovers can push on in the Championship next season after getting over the line in the survival race.

The versatile defender had to watch from the sidelines as his team-mates earned some crucial results at the business end of the campaign.

Miller had made a positive start at Ewood Park following his switch from Hibernian last summer, becoming popular with the supporters for his commitment and no-nonsense defending.

But his campaign was cut short by a serious Achilles injury against Queens Park Rangers, which also ruined his hopes of playing for Australia at the World Cup this summer. Rovers hope to have him back available by 2027.

When asked what he had learned from his first season in the Championship, Miller told RoversTV: “The way that I play, I give everything I possibly have and I've realised that at this level, at times, that's not enough. There's so much quality in this league.

“Camaraderie is a massive thing because in this league, there's going to be ups and there's going to be downs.

“You're going to go on losing streaks, you're going to go on winning streaks. It is so unpredictable, but that's what makes it so entertaining.

“That's the reason why I love this league. Ultimately, you never know what's going to happen. There have been teams that have gone down you wouldn't have expected to go down.

“You've got teams that have just gone up to the Prem for the first time in a while. It's so unpredictable and I love that kind of mystery.

“Obviously, in my head I'm going, ‘Why can't it be us… it should be us’. Next year, once I'm back fit, I thought I gave it all but this time, I'm going to give it everything I've got.”

The 25-year-old made 23 starts in the league before injury struck, scoring in the victory against Preston North End at Deepdale. He was also on target in the draw against Watford at Ewood Park.

Miller hailed the character of his team-mates for sticking together throughout all the highs and lows of the past season.

The defender was pleased to see the club secure its short-term aim of survival and now wants to be aiming higher next term.

“It’s been a topsy-turvy season but we've stuck together. At the end of the day, in the position that we're in, we fought and did what we had to do,” he added.

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“It's good that we could achieve that goal. Now obviously, we're going to have new goals for next season.

“But you can tell with the boys, the way they play, that there was always 120 per cent effort. There was no doubt in my mind that they’re going to give everything they possibly can on the pitch.

“At the end of the day, it affects everyone - the fans, the players, the town itself. I want Blackburn to be put on the map again and what better way than going to the Prem? But baby steps for now!”