Bournemouth's Hill on hunger to improve at Blackburn Rovers

James Hill says Jon Dahl Tomasson trusts his defenders to be brave on the ball and believes it will prove fruitful at Rovers.

The 21-year-old has made four appearances so far since his loan move from Bournemouth, three of those coming in the league.

Rovers’ attractive brand football played a key role in their efforts to sign the likes of Hill and Andy Moran this summer, and the defender is already loving life in East Lancashire.

“Adding different things to your game is massively important,” he told RoversTV. “The way the Premier League is going now, there are also more ball-playing teams in the Championship and centre-halves are getting better on the ball.

“That is something everyone needs in their game – to be composed on the ball and take it from the back. It is really helping myself and other players as well, it gives us confidence.

“(Tomasson) wants us to try things and not worry too much if mistakes happen because we will get after it as a team.

“We want to keep doing the right things and if we make mistakes on the ball, we will only learn from it. We are learning and I think we are getting miles better at it. I think the journey is going in the right direction.”

He added: “We are playing good football and look a threat going forward. The patterns of play have been good.

“We play a good tempo and I think we are only going to get better from here. We just need to keep putting the work in on the training pitch.”

Hill has quickly settled in at Ewood Park and is keen to learn from playing alongside the likes of Dom Hyam and Hayden Carter in the backline.

Hill is keen to learn from the likes of Dom Hyam (Image: Camerasport)

“I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” he stated. “The lads have been incredible with me and I am really comfortable.

“I am really enjoying the football. I’m learning lots from the gaffer and players around me like Dom and Hayden.

“It has been great for me. I am learning so much and that is what I want to do - keep soaking in information, improve my own game and help the team as much as possible.”

The youngster says there is a hunger to improve every day on the training pitch at Rovers and is relishing the environment.

“I think that is when a player feels like they can play their best football – when they are confident and feel settled in at the club they are at,” he explained.

“It is a young group here and we can all relate to different things. On the pitch, we all want to improve and get results on a Saturday.

“It is a group that really wants to develop. Not just on Saturdays but on the training pitch as well, we all want to develop and get to that next level.

Hill has slotted in at right-back when called upon (Image: Camerasport)

“It is a group you want to be involved in and get amongst because you know you are only going to improve from being in this environment.”

While Hill is naturally a centre-back, he has been happy to slot into the right-back role when called upon.

The 21-year-old has embraced the challenge of coming up against “different types of opponents” and is confident it will have a positive impact on his development.

“I think that is something you need to add to your game at times,” he continued. “Sometimes you haven’t got a choice and you need to play that position.

“It can be massive for my development because I am coming up against different types of opponents each week and it will only help me in the long run.

“I always want to be part of the team and if I am playing right-back on matchday, it is amazing and I just have to give it everything I have got.

“It’s the same with playing centre-back or any other position. All you can do is help the team as much as you can.”

Hill’s first start came in the 5-2 victory against Cardiff in the Carabao Cup second round, playing the full 90 minutes alongside Scott Wharton.

“The gaffer and the staff have helped me step onto the pitch knowing exactly what I need to do,” he insisted.

“The Cardiff game was really good for me to settle in and experience the home fans. They really showed their support on that day. Even the away fans, they have been superb and they support us all the way.

“I think that breeds confidence into the team and for us to get to where we want to, I think that will be massive throughout the season.”

The youngster managed an assist against the Bluebirds, sending Jake Garrett through on goal with a clever ball over the top of the backline.

“It was a nice assist but that is what we have been working on in training – where we can hurt teams. We can’t take away from Garrett’s run, it was a superb touch as well when he brings it down and puts it in the back of the net,” he said modestly.

Cardiff travel to Ewood Park again this weekend, this time in the league, and Hill is hoping for a similar outcome.

Tomasson’s side currently sit 17th in the Championship table, although few would argue that their performances have warranted more since the start of the campaign.

There were plenty of positives to take from the emphatic 4-0 victory at Queens Park Rangers before the international break. Arnor Sigurdsson bagged a brace at Loftus Road, with Tyrhys Dolan and Sam Szmodics also getting on the scoresheet.

Rovers only three points behind 11th-place West Brom at this stage and a run of results could see them fly up the table.

Hill is optimistic the side can find consistency if they stick to their gameplan and keep putting in the hard yards in training.

“Some of the football we are playing has been really good,” he stated. “I think we have been a bit unfortunate and haven’t been able to put the ball in the back of the net at times.

“If we keep playing the way we are and keep creating chances, we will score more goals and start climbing the table.”