Jarrad Branthwaite made his first Blackburn appearance for nearly two months as he helped the Championship club to victory over Derby.

The Cumbrian teenager returned to the Rovers defence for tonight's clash with Wayne Rooney's Rams at Ewood Park.

And the former Carlisle United star helped keep the Rams at bay in a 2-1 win for Tony Mowbray's side.

Branthwaite, 18, who is on loan from Everton, had last figured for Rovers on February 27 against Coventry.

The Wigton prospect then had a spell out with illness and has spent recent weeks as a substitute for Mowbray's side.

But an injury to Darragh Lenihan saw the Blackburn boss bring Branthwaite back in for a start alongside Manchester City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis at the back.

The Cumbrian's return coincided with a first win in eight for the Ewood Park outfit, who are 14th in the table.

It was the talented teenager's 10th appearance since his loan move from the Toffees in January. He joined the Premier League club from Carlisle in January 2020 and earned an England Under-19 call-up earlier this season.

Ex-Carlisle loan man Tom Lawrence gave Rooney's fourth-bottom Rams the lead before Sam Gallagher and Harvey Elliott hit back for Blackburn.