BLACKBURN Rovers boss Paul Lambert has hailed the ‘brilliant’ form of captain Grant Hanley – and insisted he has the ability to play in the Premier League again.

Hanley will be one of the leading contenders for Rovers’ player of the year award once the voting is opened to supporters.

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The Scotland international continued the impressive showings he has turned in this season with a man-of-the-match display in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Wolves.

Hanley helped Rovers record their 14th clean of the campaign and pick up a point which all but ensured their Championship survival.

Lambert has made it clear he wants the club to be fighting at the other end of the table next season.

And he believes Hanley would not look out of place in the top-flight if the former Aston Villa and Norwich City boss manages to achieve his aim.

Lambert said: “I think there’s been a few lads who have been brilliant for me and Grant has definitely been up there.

“If you can get people who you know exactly what you’re going to get then that’s half the battle.

“Grant is doing great with the national team and he’s played in the Premiership before.

“He knows exactly what it takes and once you’re in there you want to get back to it.”

Hanley, who was a regular in Rovers’ final season in the Premier League, was partnered in defence by the suspension-free Shane Duffy at Molineux.

That meant Elliott Ward had to settle for a place on the bench after proving an able deputy for Duffy and Hanley in the previous two matches.

Lambert said of the 31-year-old: “Wardy is older than Grant and Shane and you’ve got to manage him through certain games.

“He never lets you down and you know what you’re going to actually get from him.

“But the two lads at the back were excellent again. In fact the whole back four were very good and that’s shown by the fact that Jason Steele didn’t have a save to make.”

Lambert admitted his side, who welcome Huddersfield Town to Ewood Park this Saturday, did not show enough quality against Wolves.

But he took encouragement from the much-improved performance produced by Jordi Gomez.

The playmaker was restored to the tip of the midfield diamond and forced Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme into two superb saves.

Lambert said: “I said the other day that we had to start bringing the best out of Jordi again and I thought we saw that.

“He had a terrific shot and a header and the goalkeeper made brilliant saves from both of them.

“Jordi is capable of producing that quality and can make things happen. Even the little passes he puts through are excellent.

“But overall just that bit of quality was missing from our game.”