Arnor Sigurdsson on his injury and Blackburn Rovers start
Arnor Sigurdsson is delighted to finally show Blackburn Rovers fans what he can do but insists there is more to come.
The Icelandic forward has endured a long wait for his debut after suffering a serious groin injury in pre-season. That ruled him out for an initial 10 weeks, right in the middle of the off-season.
After working with the medical team, Sigurdsson has worked his way to fitness and built up his match sharpness with the Under-21s. His displays saw Jon Dahl Tomasson throw him in from the start against Ipswich Town for 45 minutes.
hat could hardly have gone better on a personal level, with the 24-year-old showing the composure he can bring to Rovers in front of goal. Against Cardiff, he showed his poaching instincts to finish Andrew Moran’s cut-back, making it two in two despite playing only 103 minutes.
READ MORE: Sigurdsson has shown what he can give Blackburn Rovers
Sigurdsson has been patient as he worked towards a full recovery, determined to ensure the lingering problem was resolved. Now, he’s ready to make his mark.
“It was really nice to get out there,” he said. “I have been waiting for this moment for quite a while.
“We are through to round four and I am super happy to get through. I wouldn’t say it’s been frustrating, the first two or three days after an injury are hard but I got my head down.
“I knew I had to work hard and I have been doing that with the medical team to be ready. I learned a lot during this time so I used it well.
“Coming into the team with the way we’re playing, it fits me really well. I am getting up to game fitness, fetting minutes into my body and I feel good out there.
“To score two goals helps my confidence as well. I feel good, the fitness is good but when you’ve been out for 10 to 12 weeks, you need time to get back to where I want to be.”
Rovers fans have understandably had their tongues wagging after Sigurdsson’s bright start. Given the desperate need for a goal-scorer, the quality he’s shown in front of goal already is exciting.
Tomasson’s side have created so many chances this season and the story has been familiar, with a lack of cutting-edge costing them. It’s easy to see why someone of Sigurdsson’s ilk would enjoy playing in a team like this.
He was particularly complimentary about the way Rovers have developed such a clear, attacking style. He puts that down to the commitment of Tomasson, who leaves no stone unturned in his quest for three points.
“The gaffer has said, it’s like being in heaven playing in this team,” he said. “There are so many chances, so many good attacks so if you’re in the right areas you will get goals and assists.
“I think the way we played and the statistics show how we are doing with the attacking chances created and the ball possession. We have to get rid of the mistakes and the silly goals we are conceding.
“If we can get rid of that, we can compete. It’s a high-class group but the biggest difference is how we play, the way the gaffer plays.
“I have learnt so much since coming here with the way he wants to play and how he develops his players. When you have such a high aim, you have to do everything and he is commanding.
“He knows what he wants us to do and we have to follow that.”
“I have focused on was getting to know the players from the outside,” he added. “Seeing the individual players and seeing how the team wants to play. That’s definitely helped me coming in to know my team-mates better.”
