Former Liverpool midfielder Stewart Downing has been impressed by Blackburn Rovers teammate Harvey Elliott.

Elliott is on-loan at Ewood Park this season from Liverpool.

“We have to be careful with him because he's still very young, but he's almost the go-to man for us at the moment, he's playing well and getting goals," the ex-Liverpool winger told Blackburn's official website.

“The manager's probably trying to see whether he can rest him at some stage, but you have to play him at the minute.

“He'll have ups and downs in his career, but he has that quality through a goal or an assist.

“But he's fitted in so well here, he's got a good environment around him and the lads all really look after him.

“It's important for him to just keep enjoying his football."

Downing has hailed his work rate off the ball as well as his quality on it.

“I think the lads have spoken to each other and mentioned that you look back to when you were 17, you're a bit a headless chicken, aren't you?" he added.

“But Harvey's game understanding, his quality, his knowledge of when to release the pass, even with his goal, he never panics.

“For the equaliser [against Rotherham], as soon as he took his first touch I was turning back because I knew it would be a goal.

“He has the finesse, the quality, but he's also fitted into the group very well.

“He's definitely got the quality, but he runs around and works hard as well.

“I think most would look at him and say 'he's good, he's got the technical ability', but he's buying into everything, the pressing, the tracking back, he's a real team player."