2023 was not an easy year for Scott Wharton. Whilst his boyhood club recorded their highest finish since relegation from the Premier League, he was watching from the sidelines.

The Blackburn Rovers defender started the 2022/23 campaign playing regularly Jon Dahl Tomasson, as he had under Tony Mowbray, but ended the campaign as an understudy to Hayden Carter and Dom Hyam.

A lack of rhythm from regular game time saw a dip in performances. By his own admission, his confidence was low. 

The tipping point was the morning of November 13, 2022, ahead of Rovers' East Lancs derby against Burnley. Wharton was put up for press duties ahead of the massive match and everyone, including the player, expected him to be in the starting line-up.

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But a few hours before kick-off, he was jettisoned to the bench by Jon Dahl Tomasson, with Clinton Mola taking his place. Nobody needs a reminder of how the 90 minutes played out.

In an honest and refreshing interview, Wharton opened up on his fractured relationship with Tomasson and how last season was one of the toughest of his career which saw him considering his long-term future at Ewood Park.

"That was a frustrating period, we didn't always see eye to eye but everyone has opinions and their way of doing things," he said.

"This manager has come in and given me a boost, he's said the place is there for me and to show him what I can do.

"I have put in good performances and so I hope he believes in me to play. Last season was horrible for me personally.

"I didn't enjoy it, my confidence was low, the manager didn't help me. It was like that with a lot of players, to be honest.

"What summed it up was when I thought I was playing at Burnley away and the morning of the game, he told me I was on the bench. I'm not saying I'd have made a difference in that game but it hit me for six.

"You have to come back from things and I think I have. It's behind me now.

"I want to play football, I'm not here to make numbers up. I'm at that stage of my career, I'm 26. I feel like I should be playing regular football, wherever that is.

"If I had continued to not play then yes, I'd have been looking elsewhere to play football."

Injuries to Carter and Hyam offered Wharton a route back into the team in 2024 and he hasn't let Rovers down. He has arguably been their most consistent central defender this season.

Particularly since John Eustace came in, Wharton has been a mainstay in a far tighter defensive rearguard. His individual performances have improved and so have those of the defence as a collective.

Playing regularly is crucial to that. As the 26-year-old aptly puts it, 'It's not rocket science'.

"I think that's why I struggled under the other manager, he was chopping and changing all the time," he explained.

"You won't get the best out of me if I am not playing regular football. I have shown when I have games under my belt, I get better and better. I believe in myself.

"It is massive playing regularly. When you come in here or there and then you get dropped, or you're on for 15 minutes, it's hard to make an impact, especially as a defender.

"It is tough. Playing regular football, getting consistency and getting my confidence up, it helps. You can build relationships, it has helped me and it helps a lot of players. The more you play, the better you will play. It's not rocket science."

Rovers have eight Championship games to preserve their status in the division. They have been far tougher to beat under Eustace but wins have evaded them. On paper, they have the trickiest run-in compared to those around them.

But football is played on grass and the end-of-season feel in the Championship brings out surprising results. Rovers hope that is the case, starting against Ipswich on Friday.

"We haven't had enough clean sheets, from my point of view and the defence's, it hasn't been good enough, the amount of goals we've conceded this season," Wharton admitted.

"That was how we used to play under the old manager. Those were his ideas and his style of play. We're here now and under the new gaffer, we are more solid, more organised and more together as a team.

"That's what we needed. I prefer playing that sort of way, personally. I think it's what players are used to, the style they've been brought up with and how they have been coached in previous years growing up.

"Every game left is big. We are fully aware of that and we are going into these games trying to win. We're not sitting in, trying to scrape a point.

"We know the situation, it's a big weekend. Going into Friday's game, we have good confidence after Middlesbrough and we're looking forward to it.

"It means a lot to me, more than certain players perhaps. It would be dreadful to get relegated with this club, I don't want it on my CV. 

"I want to push up the league, not down it. It's massive and it means a lot to me."