Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony has hailed Sam Szmodics after a strong start to the Championship campaign.

Rovers signed the attacking midfielder from Posh in the summer of 2022 and he scored seven goals in all competitions last season.

Szmodics has already equalled that feat this term and is currently joint-top scorer in the Championship along with Adam Armstrong and Jack Clarke following his strike at Queens Park Rangers before the international break.

The 28-year-old also received a first call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad but had to withdraw due to personal reasons.

“I’ve seen he’s top of the scoring charts and finally got called up to the Irish squad,” MacAnthony said on his Hard Truth Podcast.

“It was an absolute travesty that he hadn’t been called up, I don’t know what Stephen Kenny is doing. You have got Jack Taylor and Szmodics, two of my former players, who should have been in the squad two years ago.

“Now they are established Championship players and you have still got 33, 34 and 35-year-old journeymen playing in that squad when we can’t qualify for a World Cup or Euros. Get them in, get rid of the old guard and start again.”

Szmodics two-and-a-half-years at Peterborough, initially joining on loan from Bristol City before making the move permanent several months later.

The midfielder scored seven goals in the 2021/22 campaign before he was snapped up by Rovers the following summer.

“I’m delighted for Sammie, and I’m hoping Blackburn sell him for 10 or £12million in January because I have got a nice chunk on that too,” MacAnthony laughed.

“I’m delighted for the lads doing well. Sammie is an emotional kid and it is great to see him prove his doubters wrong. He is the heart and soul of that Blackburn team every time I see them winning games.”