Sammie Szmodics could make his return to Ewood Park this weekend as Rovers host Ipswich Town in the Championship.
Supporters won’t need reminding how his last season in the second tier went, hitting 27 league goals to claim the Golden Boot and fire Rovers to safety.
It was 33 goals in all competitions, making him the club’s first player since Alan Shearer to reach 30 in a single campaign.
It was no surprise that Szmodics' prolific form attracted interest from Ipswich as they prepared for the step up to the Premier League.
The attacking midfielder had ambitions to play in the top flight but the saga spilled into the new season. He made a couple more appearances for Rovers, getting on the scoresheet against Derby and Stockport County.
The clubs eventually agreed on a deal understood to be around £9million plus add-ons, which were likely to take the package into eight figures.
Szmodics made his first Ipswich start against Manchester City and opened the scoring after just seven minutes with a tidy finish past Ederson.
He also produced a moment of magic to help Kieran McKenna’s side secure their first victory back among the elite against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Irish international scored four times in total, also netting against Brentford and Fulham, before his campaign was cut short by an ankle injury.
In his absence, Ipswich finished in 19th place and could not avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
Szmodics was used on the left wing during his first taste of Premier League football, although he still had the freedom to cut inside onto his right foot as Leif Davis provided width from full back. Now, he has returned to a more familiar central role.
It is no surprise that the Tractor Boys were one of the early promotion favourites, although they had a mixed start to life back in the second tier with draws against Birmingham, Southampton and Derby, plus a shock defeat against Preston North End.
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Szmodics started the first three games of the campaign but dropped to the bench against Derby and his former manager, John Eustace.
The 29-year-old was then forced to return early from international duty after picking up a knock, although he managed another appearance off the bench against Sheffield United last weekend as McKenna’s side secured an emphatic 5-0 victory which they hope will kick-start their season.
It remains to be seen what role Szmodics will have against his former club this weekend but there is strong competition for places following the signing of Chuba Akpom on loan from Ajax.
Akpom made his first start against the Blades, although his minutes are still being managed after missing part of pre-season.
Earlier this season, Szmodics told Sky Sports: "I'd pay serious money to get 27 goals in the Champ like I did at Blackburn"!
But Rovers will be looking to keep their former talisman quiet as they aim to build on a hard-fought victory at Watford and secure their first points of the season at Ewood Park.
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