Tommie Hoban has gone on a season-long loan to Blackburn Rovers.
Doncaster Rovers’ Nathan Tyson (L) and Watford’s Tommie Hoban in action
Watford defender Tommie Hoban has joined Blackburn Rovers on a season-loan loan as the 22-year-old looks to gain regular first-team football.
Hoban was handed his debut in May 2011 under Malky Mackay, and the Watford graduate then broke into the first team on a regular basis under Gianfranco Zola in the 2012-13 season.
In that campaign the then-teenager featured 19 times, scoring two goals, and helped the Hornets to reach the Championship play-off final.
Charlton’s Rob Hulse (R) and Watford’s Tommie Hoban in action
However, injury affected his progress and meant that the defender missed a large portion of the following season, although he was able to make 30 appearances under Slavisa Jokanovic in the 2014-15 campaign to help the side gain promotion back to the Premier League.
It was another injury-hit season for the former Republic of Ireland under-21 captain last term, however, as he failed to feature even once under Quique Sanchez Flores.
With Miguel Britos, Craig Cathcart, Sebastian Prodl, Christian Kabasele and Younes Kaboul all competing for the three centre-back positions under current boss Walter Mazzarri alogn with a wealth of full-back options, Hoban would have struggled to gain regular football.
Watford manager Walter Mazzarri
As a result, he has joined Blackkburn on loan and told RoversPlayerHD: “I’m delighted to be here, I can’t wait to get started now. It all happened quite fast, this time yesterday I wasn’t even sure I’d be going out on loan.
“I’m hoping to help the team as much as I can, I had a tough time last year with injuries and I was hoping to get back playing. To come to a club of the calibre of Blackburn is massive, I’m really happy to be here.
“I’m confident, I feel good now and and hopefully I can have a good season personally and for the team as well.”
Here is what the Watford fans thought of Hoban’s season-long loan.
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