Albion loanee Christian Walton is a shoo-in to play all 46 games in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers.

Walton, who joined Rovers on loan back in July, has played every minute of all of their 15 games in the Championship and kept four clean sheets so far this season.

And Richard Sharpe, who covers Rovers for the Lancashire Telegraph, expects Walton to play every minute in the Championship this season.

He said: “They kept four clean sheets in the first seven games. The Blackburn defence last season was their weakness having conceded 69 goals.

“They have tried to improve by bringing in Tosin Adarabioyo from Manchester City on loan as well as Walton, however, they picked up a couple of injuries to key defenders in the game against Queens Park Rangers last month.

“Walton has played every minute this season, but that is not surprising with the No.2 keeper not being viewed as someone they can give the No.1 jersey to.

“So unless they bring in someone in January, or something happens to Walton, then he is a shoo-in to play all 46 Championship games.”

Walton came in to replace the popular David Raya, who left to join fellow Championship side Brentford in the summer, and Sharpe feels Walton has been unfairly criticised so far in his time at Blackburn.

He said: “He got some criticism against Preston recently.

“Blackburn were 2-0 up in the game and a cross came in which Walton tried to see out for a goal kick but he missed and Preston’s Tom Barkhuizen scored.

“I think he has been quite harshly criticised as he was replacing a fans’ favourite in Raya.

“He has been judged very harshly due to this as he is being compared to Raya.”

One thing that Walton has been known for is his penalty saving, especially at Wigan last season.

Not surprisingly this season Walton has been at it again in the win away at Hull, when he saved a penalty from Jared Bowen.

Sharpe said: “His record from penalties is very good, despite the last two being scored against him for Rovers. The Hull game it was vital save in the win, at the time it was 0-0 early in the game.

“Bowen stepped up and took a good penalty, which Walton dived to his left to stop flying into his top corner. It was a great save.”

But just how much potential does Sharpe think Walton has?

He said: “Albion certainly seem to think very highly of him. Rovers know he will only be here for the year.

“I am probably yet to be convinced about him playing in the Premier League.

“Rovers have had a few defensive errors and Walton has made a few mistakes.

“But he is only 23 and this is his third season out on loan at Championship, League One or League Two level, so he has picked up some decent experience.

“It does appear he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Walton has been capped for England at youth level, so could Sharpe see the keeper playing for the senior side in the future?

He said: “Well he still has another 14-odd years to play in his career.

“But you have to look at Dean Henderson and Jordan Pickford who are still young and have many more years ahead of them.

“Walton is one of the top goalkeepers in the Championship but at the moment he will be nowhere near the England squad. If he was playing regularly in the Premier League, though, there is no reason why he could not be considered for it.”

The keeper was praised by Rovers manager Tony Mowbray after their 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

A late save proved crucial and went some way to making amends for the Preston error.

Mowbray said: “For Christian to make that amazing save right at the end, it was great for him and it kept it at 2-1 instead of 2-2.