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The Lancashire Telegraph
News, sport and entertainment from all over East Lancashire
Cup dream is Best aim for Blackburn Rovers (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Cup dream is Best aim for Blackburn Rovers
8:30am Saturday 9th March 2013 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
LEON Best is dreaming of ending his 13-month injury hell in style by firing Blackburn Rovers into an FA Cup semi final at Wembley.
Rovers’ summer signing will make his full debut for the club in tomorrow’s quarter final at Championship rivals Millwall, having not played since last February due to injury.
The 26-year-old had just recovered from a medial ligament injury when he moved to Ewood Park in the summer for circa £3million but, after just a couple of pre-season friendlies, he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Now, having played his first 10 minutes for Rovers in a substitute cameo on Tuesday night, Best is relishing the opportunity of making his full bow on the big stage.
He said: “The result didn’t go our way on Tuesday but to be back amongst it was brilliant.
“The time out “has made me realise what a good job we have got and how much we need to appreciate it.
“I am just delighted to be back fit and playing now. The last game I started was Aston Villa at home for Newcastle in January 2012. It has been a long time.
“It is a massive game to be coming back for and I’m lucky it is a game like this I am back for. Hopefully we are all up for it and do the right things and get to Wembley.
“Even when I came on the other night, the Blackburn fans were showing me a lot of love, that gave me a lift as well. The fact I haven’t played for the club yet and they rate me enough to be cheering is another lift for me.
“Jordan Rhodes has been doing very well and scored a lot of goals. I look forward to playing with him and, when we have the likes of Colin Kazim-Richards back, we will be a strong force definitely .”
Best has never played at Wembley but did score a half time penalty at thehome of English football as a competition winner in his childhood.
“I went to Wembley as a fan a long time ago,” he said. “I went to the Coca Cola Cup final between Middlesbrough and Chelsea in 1998. I won some tickets to go.
“It would be good to go back to the new one. It was a Coca Cola kid competition, where you do kick-ups and tricks. I took a penalty at half time and scored, I think it was against the Chelsea reserve keeper.
“I was only young, Chelsea won the game. I got a medal for it, it was a good time, and got to meet all the players.”
Best also had words of thanks for Blackburn Rovers physio Dave Fevre - along with the rest of the club’s medical staff – for their part in his rehabilitation.
He said: “The medical staff at Blackburn have been brilliant. In football you get stressed and take your anger out on the people closest to you.
“Sometimes I’m sure I have been a bit annoying but Dave Fevre has been unbelievable. I am the type of person who is always pushing and he handled it very well. I have the utmost of respect for him.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (32)
8:56am Sat 9 Mar 13
whittleblue says...
9:09am Sat 9 Mar 13
French Rover says...
WITH GOALS FROM RHODES AND BEST
WE ARE THE ROVERS
SO SOD ALL THE REST!
9:15am Sat 9 Mar 13
Rishtonian says...
9:17am Sat 9 Mar 13
Rishtonian says...
10:24am Sat 9 Mar 13
merlinrabbit says...
11:16am Sat 9 Mar 13
Harwoodstblue says...
11:47am Sat 9 Mar 13
Nuttall Street says...
11:49am Sat 9 Mar 13
Nuttall Street says...
Nuttall Street says...
Any suggestIons for the best way to get to the Den if you are travelling by public transport from central London?
12:04pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Iiii1111 says...
Overground
12:04pm Sat 9 Mar 13
I named my son JW says...
12:04pm Sat 9 Mar 13
srvp28 says...
Seriously though, take the tube to London Bridge (Northern or Jubilee Lines) then take the overland train to South Bermondsey. It's not far from the stadium and there'll be Police or stewards there to direct you to the away end.
12:06pm Sat 9 Mar 13
srvp28 says...
12:19pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Nuttall Street says...
12:21pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Nuttall Street says...
1:09pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Iiii1111 says...
1:28pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Iiii1111 says...
Rovers v Wigan semi
1:42pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Iiii1111 says...
2:29pm Sat 9 Mar 13
merlinrabbit says...
3:51pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Harwoodstblue says...
Let's hope he picks a team who are committed to the cause and leaves the passengers out.
Up t' Rovers.
4:43pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Wild Rover says...
You are out and out pessimists, you can see no light at all, doom all round
Now granted an optimist like me sometimes over does the straw clutching but. it is hope that keeps you going
In fact I dont believe that any football fan who attends live matches can be a realist, as we all like to think today might be our day when most times it ain't
But every now and again it is...
Of course Man U and Barca fans etc are not included in this observation as they have cause for realism or even optimism
So I suggest you two s*d off and buy a Man U shirt or put yourselves out of your misery once and for all
So not needed at Ewood...we have sufficient supply of pessimism currently
4:54pm Sat 9 Mar 13
hasslem hasslem says...
5:29pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Harwoodstblue says...
You might not agree with me , that's up to you but don't think you are any better supporter than I am just because you have a different opinion. You make yourself sound conceited.
After three seasons of spiraling forever downwards you are still as optimistic as ever I see.
You my friend are certainly as deluded as Steve Kean was, or perhaps you are Steve Kean
6:46pm Sat 9 Mar 13
rovers1968 says...
7:08pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Wild Rover says...
Not deluded, just a Rovers fan
7:13pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Wild Rover says...
7:50pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Harwoodstblue says...
From your attitude towards anyone who doesn't share your views you come over as an obnoxious know all. Good for you.
BTW. many on here would also call you a t**t.
8:16pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Wild Rover says...
And anyone who does not agree with you is Steve Kean...hahaha
Not only are you a t**t you are thick with it
And I am the obnoxious know all?
Pot/Kettle/ Sutty bum springs to mind
Like I said , Dingle troll
8:22pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Harwoodstblue says...
Dingle, Troll, thick, t**t, Is their anything else you can call me? A bit childish isn't it?.... Calm down you're losing it man.
9:36pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Wild Rover says...
Just got the measure of you is all
Certainly not losing it, just enjoying the battle of wits with an unarmed man
Thats you Thicko btw
9:55pm Sat 9 Mar 13
Harwoodstblue says...
10:53pm Sat 9 Mar 13
handyamBRFC says...
but it will only mean more games for us and with the current squad injuries I'm not sure we can cope.
I think for certs....we will not be going up for sure this season...!
hence we need to start preparing for next season.
We need a complete midfield for starts....!!!
what players should we keep or get rid of ..??
what do you think?
Goalkeepers
1 Robinson Finished :Get rid of
2 Sandomierski : Not Known
3 Usai
3 Kean YES : Potential but we need an experienced a No 1
Defenders
2 Orr Get rid of
3 Olsson YES
4 Henrique Unsure & Not known
5 Givet Finished: Get rid of – Mentally unstable
1 Dann YES needs a captain/partner
2 Rekik Send him back: too young as yet
2 Henley YES
3 Hanley Ok as squad member
4 Daly ??? WHO
Midfielders
6 Lowe Ok as squad member
7 Nunes potential
8 Dunn Finished : Retire
1 Pedersen Finished as a winger: Retire
1 Murphy Finished : PLZ Retire
14 Olsson Okay as squad member : needs to beef up
17 Williamson YES Hopefully will stay injury free
17 Jorge Unsure / Untried
18 Etuhu Finsihed Plz leave
24 Morris future potential
26 Hanley future potentail
32 Stewart : Unsure & a lightweight player
33 Bentley Let him complete his loan:??? probably finished
36 Jones ok for now & for next championship crusade
37 Cotton Future potential
38 Rosado Unsure / untried
40 Payne Future potential
44 O'Sullivan Future Potential
Forwards
9 Best YES Lets hope he fulfills our dreams
10 Campbell Allow loan to complete and can leave
11 Rhodes YES
15 King YES
19 Junior ???
21 Nuno Gomes ???
25 Goodwillie ???
39 Kazim-Richards YES
40 Forrester Yes potential
we def need some better players especially across the midfield and central defence.
what do you think..??
10:19am Sun 10 Mar 13
owd nick says...
Nightmare scenario, win today, start dreaming of Wembley and forget league position.
Slip closer to relegation zone, but hey a Wembley appearance brightens up a players CV.
Get stuffed at Wembley by a team of reserves or a rampant Wigan.
BRAG and the boo boys kick off again.
Relegation beckons.