Blackburn manager Jon Dahl Tomasson said he was pleased with Semir Telalovic’s debut in their 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon.
Telalovic came on in the second half with 40 minutes left to play, and despite only making 15 touches, he could and arguably should have had an assist when he slid through Sammie Szmodics, only for him to miss the chance to claim a hat-trick. He also missed a chance from close range, but the offside flag was raised already.
Tomasson has urged for patience with Telalovic as he learns to adapt to a new league, new club and new country.
“I think he worked very hard, there was almost a chance for him but he was offside,” Tomasson told The Lancashire Telegraph. “I don’t know if it was offside but okay, he missed it.
“He worked hard and he’s a player who needs to get up to speed. He’s a great boy, he is confident, he likes to talk. He has a lot of energy.
“We shouldn’t put too much pressure on him, he is a player with potential but unproven at this level. Nothing wrong with that, it’s just a fact.”
Jon Dahl Tomasson on Callum Brittain
Callum Brittain has started the last three games in the Championship but with Joe Rankin-Costello returning from injury, Brittain will have good competition for his starting place.
He joined Rovers last summer but has been very unlucky with injuries, with the form of Rankin-Costello also keeping him out of the side last season. Tomasson agreed that Brittain played very well on Saturday though.
“I totally agree (about his displays),” Tomasson said. “When you come into a new club, Callum said it himself, it’s difficult to get used to a new way of playing.
“You have new team-mates, it’s a new area. It’s taken him some time. We shouldn’t forget he’s been injured a lot, normally he is never injured!
“Last season was very frustrating for Callum but I agree he played a very good game today.”