DARRAGH Lenihan's Rovers debut came as a surprise and the fact he stands to make his 50th appearance for the club in Saturday's Championship clash with Huddersfield has caught him off guard as well.

"I didn't realise that," said Lenihan when asked about reaching the milestone.

"It is a huge honour making 50 appearances for such a great club."

Lenihan's first appearance came towards the end of the 2014-15 season when he was introduced eight minutes before the break in place of the injured Matt Kilgallon.

Then Ewood boss Gary Bowyer was impressed enough to keep him in the side for the final two matches of the season.

Lenihan's first start came against Saturday's opponents when he partnered Tommy Spurr in heart of the Rovers defence in a 2-2 draw with the Terriers and the Irishman kept his place for the season finale against Ipswich, which Rovers won 3-2.

But, just when the 22-year-old, who had spent much of the 2013-14 campaign on loan at Burton Albion in League Two, must have felt his first team breakthrough had arrived he was back on the sidelines.

His next league appearance didn't arrive until January 2016, under Paul Lambert, and it came in midfield.

This time he managed to enjoy a run in the starting XI and ended the campaign making 27 appearances as Rovers finished 15th.

The majority were in midfield but this season, in part due to injuries, he has forged himself a place in the heart of the back four.

So where is his best position?

"I am still young so I can't say 'I want to play here and I want to play there', I will play wherever I am put," said Lenihan. "I will keep doing the best job I can for the team and try to keep getting clean sheets and wins."

Lenihan is set to retain his place at centre back for the visit of David Wagner's side today with last weekend's hero Charlie Mulgrew again set to partner him despite the return to fitness of Gordon Greer.

Lenihan has already played alongside both, plus the injured Tommie Hoban this season and admits the enforced chopping and changing has been tricky but that he feels he has the basis of a strong pairing with former Celtic man Mulgrew.

"It has been difficult at times when you change players so regularly due to injury and things," Lenihan added. "But Charlie has been magnificent since he came in, he has so much experience having played for Celtic.

"He is a terrific player - you can see that from training - and not only that but he is a good lad outside of football and I am looking to learn from him every day."

Mulgrew is not the only elder statesman who Lenihan is looking to learn from with the likes of Greer and Wes Brown also having plenty of experience in the game, something the youngster believes can only benefit him.

He added: "I am only 22 and I wouldn't say I was a natural centre half having not played there my whole career so if I can learn from the likes of those then I will."

And the Dubliner wants to bring up his half century with a win and a clean sheet - with Rovers' shutout at Newcastle being just their second of the season.

"We have had too many games this year where we have put in a good performance but didn't get the necessary points," said Lenihan.

"It was very good to put in the performance and to get the three points at such a difficult place.

"To keep a clean sheet means you are not going to lose the game so me and Charlie said to make sure we kept it tight and we want to keep getting the clean sheets and the wins.

"I appreciate being given a chance to do what I love and I will keep working to try and do the best I can."