IN COMEBACK terms, Stephen Warnock is approaching the Frank Sinatra territory.

City’s will be the seventh opposing shirt in which he has stepped out at Ewood Park.

And that doesn’t count the two-and-a-half years he spent as a Blackburn player under Mark Hughes.

The veteran defender played 109 times for Rovers after joining them from Liverpool in 2007, earning a first England cap, and looks back on it as the high point of his career. His respect for the home fans has been reciprocated on each return.

“I’ve had decent receptions when I’ve been back in the past,” he said. “But it was one of the best moves I ever made in my career.

“I could have sat there at Liverpool but you want the challenge of playing first-team football and they came in and gave me that opportunity.

“It just felt right when I went into the club and the confidence I got from Mark Hughes signing me.

“We went to the FA Cup semi-finals in my first season and qualified for Europe. We had an impressive team – Tugay, Brett Emerton, Ryan Nelsen, Benni McCarthy, Brad Friedel, (Morten) Gamst Pedersen – and I was fortunate.

“We built that summer and got even better with the likes of Roque Santa Cruz and David Bentley. The style of football we played and where we were in the league – they were great times.”

Blackburn twice finished in the Premier League top ten during Warnock’s time and he admits it is a shock to see them currently fighting to get out of the third tier.

He added: “It’s sad to see them where they are. But looking from the outside, it seems they are turning the corner.

“Tony Mowbray’s done a great job and turned the club on its head back to what it was. He understands the club and the fans enjoy what he’s doing.

“They have one of the biggest budgets but that doesn’t mean you should automatically go up.

“We have to respect what he’s done and where they are in the league but also understand we’re a big club as well and can go there and get a result.

“Their front four score a lot of goals but it’s our job to spoil the party and show what we can do.”

Having finally celebrated a first win since arriving on loan from Burton at the end of January, Warnock can detect a very different vibe around the City squad.

“They’re an honest group here, I’ve noticed that since I came in, and there’s no shying away from anything.

“There’s a positive mood but the lads have always known they are more than capable of going on another run of winning games.

“These are the games you want to play in, against the likes of Blackburn and Wigan, and you want to showcase what you can do.”