BRADLEY Dack returns to former club Gillingham tomorrow as Blackburn Rovers’ talisman and is set for his 200th career league appearance.

All but 24 of those have come in League One, a level Dack is probably well above.

Named the division’s best player while at the Gills in 2015/16 after 13 league goals and 11 assists, he is on course to emulate that success this time around having netted 15 times and laid on six assists for Rovers this term.

His move to East Lancashire in June was met with great fanfare. His £750,000 arrival is a substantial outlay at this level, but were Rovers to achieve promotion, his value may well rise to close to 10 times that amount.

Not that Rovers would consider selling their star asset who has a bright future ahead of him.

Boss Tony Mowbray believes the 24-year-old possesses the ability to play in the Premier League and, although he remains untested at Championship level, you wouldn’t find many arguing against that.

He has the finishing ability of a goal poacher, the body strength of a target man, the fleet of foot of a wide player, the workrate of a tenacious midfielder and the technical ability befitting his position in the number 10 role, Dack has all the essentials to succeed.

He is undoubtedly Rovers’ talisman, the man they turn to at key times.

On six occasions he has scored the opening goal of the game, a key factor in a side that is yet to lose when getting their noses in front.

But the road hasn’t been completely smooth since his Ewood arrival.

He limped out of the opening day defeat at Southend United with a hamstring problem, having missed a gilt-edged chance earlier in the game.

He was later pictured in an Essex nightclub, albeit ahead of a scheduled day off, rather than travelling back to East Lancashire for treatment.

A similar injury in the win at Bradford two weeks later meant Dack had to wait until September 23 for his first full 90 minutes, and with it a potential turning point in his season.

He started out of position out wide and left Derrick Williams exposed as he drifted inside to try and affect the game. But, as soon as he was moved centrally for the final 20 minutes, he converted a Harry Chapman cross and hasn’t looked back.

Fourteen more goals have come in 27 league starts, all in his favoured number 10 role, with Rovers suffering just two defeats this term in games in which Dack has started.

The statistics don’t include the joy his performances have brought, be it the showreel moments of skill or the now trademark handshake celebrations.

He is a big player on the pitch but also in the dressing room in a squad with excellent togetherness.

In his Gillingham days he was the star man, spearheading a promotion charge which ultimately fell short.

Great credit goes to him for achieving a similar level of influence on this Rovers side as they move into the final nine games of the season top of League One.

Dack remained at Gillingham until the summer having seen offers from Championship clubs rejected.

Timing was everything when Rovers pounced. They would have been priced out of a move had Dack departed the Priestfield Stadium before last summer, but brought him in on a four-year deal to tie him down for his best years.

What they must ensure is that the club can rise at the same pace to keep up with where Dack’s ability can take him.

His Rovers move has been the perfect fit. His quality deserves a greater platform than League One and the determination in the dressing room means no stone will be left unturned in Rovers’ promotion pursuit.