How Adam Armstrong reacted to Tony Mowbray re-joining Blackburn Rovers | OneFootball

Adam Armstrong has reacted to Blackburn confirming the return of Tony Mowbray as manager

Tony Mowbray has made his return to Blackburn Rovers four years after departing the club.

The 62-year-old first took over at Ewood Park in February 2017 before exiting in May 2022 with the expiration of his contract.

However, the veteran coach has stepped up to replace Michael O’Neill at the helm after his decision to walk away from the Championship side.

Mowbray oversaw Rovers’ relegation to, and promotion out of, League One in his previous stint with the Lancashire outfit.

He also led the team to 15th, 11th, 15th and eighth place finishes, and he will now be aiming to repeat that kind of form in his second stint in the dugout.

Mowbray has worked at Sunderland, Birmingham City and West Brom in the four years since he left Blackburn, as well as survived a battle with bowel cancer.

Adam Armstrong reacts to Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn return

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Former Blackburn forward Adam Armstrong has been among the responses to the club confirming Mowbray’s return as manager.

The Championship side issued a message welcoming the 62-year-old back to Ewood Park on social media.

The forward replied on Instagram: “The king is back.”

Armstrong was a fan favourite during Mowbray’s first stint as manager, initially joining the club on loan from Newcastle United in 2018 before signing on a permanent basis later that year.

The 29-year-old contributed nine goals as the team gained promotion from League One in 2018, before going on to score another 49 times in the Championship across three campaigns.

He hit an impressive 28 in 2020/21 to help the team finish 15th in the table before moving to Southampton in a deal worth a reported £15 million.

Armstrong went on to feature for the Saints in the Premier League in three different seasons, as well as contributing to their 2024 promotion success under Russell Martin.

The former Blackburn player is currently plying his trade with Wolves, so will make another return to Ewood Park next season, where he will be reunited with Mowbray following his return as manager.

Mowbray will be hoping to improve on Rovers’ 20th place finish in the table this season, with the team narrowly avoiding relegation to League One.

Blackburn were five points clear of Oxford United in 22nd, but came seventh just 12 months prior, suffering a major decline under Valerien Ismael before O’Neill righted the ship.

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Tony Mowbray’s return will be popular at Ewood Park

The manner of Mowbray’s departure came as a disappointment for a lot of Blackburn supporters, as his side were improving before his contract expired.

He was a popular figure among the fans, and he will now surely be welcome back going into next season.

Mowbray has a lot of experience, and that will be needed to navigate this summer, as a lot of work is needed to get the team back to playing at a more competitive level.

While a number of different names were thrown around to take over at Blackburn, Mowbray’s return should be a popular decision among a fanbase that has grown increasingly frustrated with the club’s decision-making in the last few years.