Jake Batty is targeting a strong finish to the season at Accrington Stanley after a frustrating spell due to injury.

The Rovers loanee returned against Notts County earlier this month and also featured against Crewe and Cheltenham over the past week.

Batty is enjoying his time at the Wham Stadium and admitted it was difficult having to watch from the stand rather than being in the thick of the action.

“It has been frustrating but it is part of football,” he told Radio Lancashire. “Obviously, I knew I had done something quite serious when I came home from training that day. I think it teaches you and gets you more prepared, mentally.

“I went and watched the boys pretty much everywhere I could go, me and my dad went to watch them at Fleetwood, Chesterfield, and just trying to keep involved in the team spirit.

“It has been tough but seeing the boys, I just wanted to be back on the pitch.”

The full-back has made 16 appearances for the Reds so far as he aims to get valuable experience under his belt in League Two.

“I think I came into the loan open,” he added. “If you come into it and are not wanting to buy into what the gaffer, the players and the staff have, you won’t enjoy it as much.

“It is a family club, everyone is really welcoming and wants you to do well, push you higher and further on.

“I have not felt out of place with any of the lads. It is how you can develop yourself and help push the team up the league, which is what everyone in the dressing room wants to be doing.”

Stanley had a tough start to the campaign but currently sit eight points clear of the drop zone, with a game in hand still to play.

The demands of League Two football are certainly different than what Batty was used to while climbing Rovers’ Academy ranks.

“There is a lot more on the line,” he explained. “There are mortgages, everything for people and it’s whether we stay in the league or get promoted.

Stanley have pulled away from the relegation zone (Image: PA) “It is a lot more physical and the output needed is a lot more. You come up against stronger, faster, and technically better people as well.

“It means more when you lose and when you win. I feel like I have always been that determined person, wanting to win every game, and it hurts when you lose or draw knowing that you can win.

“It has given everyone that mindset you need to push on a little bit more and we need to try and grind these results out.

“That is all you ever want really, to play games. The 21s is to build your technicality, on the ball, but I feel like I get a lot more out of my games at this level.

“Once you play one game in league football, you just want to carry on and play as many as you can.”

The 19-year-old was part of the squad that faced Liverpool in the FA Cup at Anfield earlier this month.

Despite not getting on the pitch against the Premier League leaders, it was still a special experience.

“It was unbelievable,” he recalled. “The whole day, we were trying to keep our minds off things by playing cards at the back of the bus.

“We were trying to keep our minds off what the actual game meant to everyone. Once you get to the stadium, it comes alive.

“Most of us spent half an hour on the pitch, taking everything in. It was great to see the following, it shows we have the backing and know what we can do.

“Obviously, they have quality, world class players, but I think we put a good performance on for ourselves.

“Our families and friends were really proud of everyone. It is only something you can look forward to again.”

Batty remains in regular contact with staff at Rovers and was pleased to see some of his Academy team-mates make the bench at first-team level.

“I always look at what Blackburn are doing and I have quite a few mates who are on the bench,” said the youngster.

“It is good to see them getting the opportunity and Blackburn are in a good place at the moment.

“They just – exactly like we are doing – need to keep on grinding results out to hopefully push them for play-offs.”

He added: “I speak to quite a few people – Damien Johnson, Stu Jones, who helped get the loan move sorted.

“It is always conversations about what you are doing better and what the next thing is for you. They have been really good with me.”