Although Blackburn Rovers have performed well in the Championship thus far this season, they are unable to spend a lot of money to try to get promoted to the Premier League. As a result, they frequently use their academy to fill holes in their senior squad and develop young players into players who are ready for the first team.
Under John Eustace, Rovers are now vying for a second-tier play-off spot, and he has decided to deploy a number of club youth products to help them advance this season.
Former Blackburn youth players like Hayden Carter, Joe Rankin-Costello, Lewis Travis, John Buckley, and Harry Leonard have all contributed to the senior squad in previous seasons and this one. Additionally, both Joe Hilton and Scott Wharton are in the first team squad following their graduation from the academy.
Adam, Wharton’s brother, is arguably Rovers’ most well-known academy graduate in recent memory. He rose quickly through the first squad at Ewood Park before being moved to Crystal Palace for £18 million last year.
His growth has demonstrated that there is a clear road for the club’s young players to establish themselves at Ewood Park in the upcoming years. Here at Football League World, we have found two players that have the potential to save Blackburn millions of dollars by making it to the first team in the near future.
Despite being linked to moves to Premier League teams Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion, young striker Igor Tyjon has been with Rovers for just over 18 months since joining their development setup from Rochdale in July 2023.
The 16-year-old, who regularly scored goals for the youth team and was included in a few first-team matchday squads in the Championship last season, committed to the team last summer by signing a two-year scholarship contract, despite interest from several elite teams, including Manchester United.
As the third-youngest player in the club’s history, Tyjon made his senior debut as a late substitute against Bristol City in September, further elevating his reputation thus far this season. It is evident that John Eustace recognises Tyjon’s potential and intends to advance him into the senior squad in the upcoming months and years.
Since then, he has made three league and cup appearances on Eustace’s bench and scored frequently for Mike Sheron’s under-21 team in the Premier League 2. In a recent interview with the Lancashire Telegraph, youth manager Sheron expressed his gratitude and stated that he hopes to soon be given more first-team opportunity.
Another young Rovers product A highly regarded teenage goalie, Nicholas Michalski has been with Ewood Park since the under-12 division.
The 17-year-old was formerly with Stoke City, but Blackburn will likely reap the benefits of his skills in the years to come. He has already played for England at the under-15, under-16, and under-18 levels.
Similarly to academy teammate Tyjon, Michalski appeared on the first-team bench on numerous occasions last season following an injury to Aynsley Pears in March, but he is yet to make his senior bow as yet, as it is understandably tough to give a teenage keeper a chance at such a high level.
After signing his first professional contract that same month, he has progressed this season to play at senior level for non-league sides Bamber Bridge and City of Liverpool, but has since returned to Rovers to feature in FA Youth Cup action.
Michalski’s latest senior milestone came just after the turn of this year, as he put pen to paper on a new two-year contract with the club to tie his future at Ewood Park down until 2027.
After already playing in the first team and training with senior players on a regular basis, the 17-year-old goalie is predicted to have a very bright future and might be the solution to any problems they face in goal over the next years.
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