CRAIG Conway today leads Blackburn Rovers out for the first time with praise echoing in his ears from the man who will hand him the captaincy.

With Jason Lowe suspended, Conway will take over the skipper’s armband for the home clash with Ipswich Town (3pm).

And Rovers boss Owen Coyle said: “Craig Conway will captain the team and it will be a great honour for him.

“People always say ‘you deserve it’ but I prefer to use the term ‘you’ve earned it’ – and Craig Conway has earned it. He’s a terrific role model for everybody at the club.

“Like Jason Lowe he’s Blackburn Rovers through and through and they both wear their heart on their sleeve.

“I think Craig will be excited and I think he’ll be honoured by it because of how he feels about Blackburn Rovers.”

This afternoon Conway will make his 113th appearance for Rovers since his £100,000 move from Cardiff City on the final day of the 2014 January transfer window.

Since then the set-piece specialist has scored 14 goals for the club – including a joint-high three so far this season – and laid on countless others.

Coyle was a fan of Conway from his days in his native Scotland with Ayr United and Dundee United.

But he admits he did not appreciate just how good a player the winger is before he started to work him.

Coyle said: “You always admire players when you see them from afar and when you get to work with them on a daily basis you actually see the qualities they’ve got.

“Some enhance your opinion and some make you think, ‘he’s actually not what I thought he was’.

“In Craig Conway’s case there’s no doubt my opinion has been enhanced.

“Even in the games when he’s not quite at his best, you know he’s giving it everything he’s got. His work-rate and application is fantastic.

“That’s the type of player we want at this club; that even if you’re having an off day, you are still pouring your heart and soul into doing well for Blackburn Rovers. Craig Conway epitomises everything about that.

“He has leadership qualities and he loves to win. In the training games he’s always mumping and moaning at decisions but I don’t mind because he wants to win.

“I love his drive and passion.”

Today’s match is followed by the visit of Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and is the first of seven at Ewood Park in the lead up to Christmas.

And on-loan centre-back Tommie Hoban said: “It always helps playing at home and getting the fans behind you. If we put the performances in they will get behind us.

“We’ve got two games at home to start the period off and if we can get back-to-back wins it will lift everyone. It will lift the fans, it will lift us.

“And if we can get a good month in before the next international break I’m sure we’ll be in a better position as a team and in the league as well.”