THE captain is one of the first, if not the first, names on a manager’s team sheet.

But at the start of this season debate raged over whether Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer should select Grant Hanley at the heart of his defence.

The Rovers skipper missed the final two months of last season after succumbing to the injuries that had afflicted him.

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Up until that point Hanley’s form, by his own admission, had fluctuated, and in his absence, his stand-in at centre-back and as captain, Matt Kilgallon, excelled.

And with Shane Duffy returning from his own long-term lay-off, there were question marks over whether the Scotland international should kick-off the campaign on the bench.

Five league matches in, Hanley has answered those questions.

The 23-year-old has been Rovers’ top performer so far this season – according to our player ratings.

Hanley has scored 35 marks out of a possible 50, averaging a solid 7 a game, closely followed by centre-back partner Duffy and winger Craig Conway, who have each earned 34 marks out of a possible 50.

Hanley, fully fit and clearly the better for it, has been in consistent form since the opener at home to Wolves.

He came to Rovers’ rescue in their 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff City when he netted his first goal in a year, and, on Friday, he produced another commanding display to ensure they kept their first clean sheet of the campaign when drawing 0-0 at home to Bolton Wanderers.

And, according to football statistics website whoscored.com, only nine other Championship centre-backs – Hull City’s Curtis Davies and Michael Dawson, Leeds United’s Sol Bamba, Ipswich Town’s Christophe Berra, QPR’s Nedum Onuoha, MK Dons’ Kyle McFadzean, Cardiff City’s Sean Morrison, Burnley’s Michael Keane, and Brentford’s James Tarkowski – have performed better so far this season.

Rovers boss Bowyer has been pleased by Hanley.

Bowyer said recently: “He’s really benefited from getting himself 100 per cent. Throughout the summer he’s worked really hard.

“He didn’t go away with Scotland and we’re reaping the benefits of that.

“We’re working with him to improve areas of his game, which he knows he has to improve, and I think you’ve seen the benefits of that in his play.”

Duffy has also impressed with no other Rovers player matching his average number of aerials won (7.2) and clearances made (3.6) in each league game.

But one area the Republic of Ireland international must improve on his finishing.

Duffy had been a threat in the opposition box this season and that is reflected in the fact that he is averaged more shots per match (2.6) than any other Rovers player.

He is, however, yet to score.