Ben Brereton Diaz's remarkable transformation since Chile discovery and memorable summer - The Mirror

The Blackburn Rovers forward has been in outstanding form for Tony Mowbray's side ever since adding Diaz to his last name and shining at the Copa America for Chile

This time last year, back when he was still simply Ben Brereton, the Blackburn Rovers striker was still awaiting his first goal of the season

He had been at Ewood Park for roughly two years, after seeing his loan deal from Nottingham Forest - where he had been a highly-touted teenage prospect before losing his way - turned into a permanent move.

But he had hardly set the world alight in Lancashire either, bagging just a solitary goal in both the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.

Last year he fared slightly better, notching seven goals by the end of the campaign while playing a secondary role to top scorer Adam Armstong.

However since the summer and his unexpected sojourn to the Copa America with Chile, he has been a Championship striker reborn.

For those still unaware of the incredible back-story to his call-up, Brereton's mother hails from the South American country, having left there for England as a child.

His first call-up to the Chilean squad came for a World Cup qualifying double-header against Argentina and Bolivia, before he was retained in the squad for the Copa America.

He duly notched his first goal for La Roja in a 1-0 win over Bolivia and became something of a social media sensation in Santiago during the summer, before Chile exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage, losing to hosts and eventual runners-up Brazil.

Brereton Diaz, as he is now referred to, was a huge hit with a country full of devout football fans.

And it wasn't long before he was starring in TV adverts, with a whole Pepsi commercial dedicated to telling the story of his unique call-up.

Looking back on his breakthrough summer, Brereton Diaz said earlier this season: "If you'd have told me this 12 months ago, I'd have said you were crazy.

"It's been a brilliant experience and something I'll never forget," he told the BBC. "Playing in the Copa America has boosted my confidence and I feel really motivated coming back."

That motivation has manifested itself nicely at Ewood Park.

We're barely into October and Brereton Diaz is already on nine league goals - already bettering his best ever tally for an entire season, with 36 games still to play - rivalling Aleksander Mitrovic at the top of the scoring charts.

The aim of becoming only the third man to hit 20 in a season for Rovers since their Premier League days is now firmly within his sights.

Armstrong surpassed that tally last season, prior to his big-money summer departure to Southampton, whilst Jordan Rhodes topped 20 in three successive seasons from 2013 to 2015.

So far, Brereton Diaz is comfortably filling those shoes - and he says he feels a more confident player nowadays, transformed after his remarkable rise to international prominence.

He said: “I’m thankful for all the support I’ve been getting from Blackburn fans, from Chile fans, and it’s really given me confidence and a motivation and I feel we can push on this season.

"I’m a player that needs to be training all the time and always on the pitch. I train every day, work hard, and I think I need that to keep going.

"I’m happy that I’m playing a lot of minutes and it’s been a good start for me.

“I’m smiling when I’m on the pitch, I’m enjoying my football. This is what I’ve wanted from a young age and I’m just enjoying being out there playing football with my team-mates.

“We’re a young team who are growing, we’re not always going to be perfect but we’re together and we’ve shown that this season.

“I think we have got something exciting and we just have to keep going."