Injury-hit Carter hoping his luck has changed

Carter has featured in eight Championship games this season after playing just 26 across the previous two campaigns due to injury.

Blackburn Rovers defender Hayden Carter is optimistic about his fitness prospects after a difficult two seasons plagued by injury. The 26-year-old managed only 26 Championship appearances across the 2022–23 and 2023–24 campaigns but has already featured in eight games this season, including his first start against Millwall in the club's fifth match.

Carter told BBC Radio Lancashire he came through pre-season fit and is determined to maintain his availability. "I missed a week with a little niggle but I think I've been fit from the first day of pre-season," he said. "It was similar last year. I came back and won the fitness test but luck wasn't on my side. Hopefully that has fully changed now and I can stay fit."

The defender has been managed carefully by Rovers, eased back into the side with substitute appearances before earning starts. He acknowledged learning to prioritise long-term fitness over short-term availability, noting he is willing to miss a game to avoid a longer injury layoff.