It's been something of a mixed start to the season for Blackburn Rovers.

With 14 points from their 11 league games so far this season, Tony Mowbray's side go into the November international break 12th in the Championship table, with four wins, two draws and five defeats to their name.

Admittedly, a long lost of absences for various reasons have not helped Rovers' cause, and they will be hoping to international break can be used to help them clear some of the space in the treatment room.

If they are unable to do that for whatever reason however, then Mowbray may soon be forced to turn to some of the club's academy players to help provide reinforcements for the senior side.

With that in mind, we've taken a look at two of Blackburn's up and coming young players who it could be well worth Rovers fans keeping their eye on over the coming months.

Connor McBride

Joining Blackburn in the summer following the expiry of his contract with Celtic, 19-year-old McBride already has some senior experience under his belt from a loan spell in Scottish League Two with Stenhousemuir.

While he has yet to be handed an opportunity at senior level for Rovers, the young striker has made quite an impact at Under 23s level, scoring five goals and providing two assists in six Premier League 2 Division One appearances so far this season.

If he continues in that form over the next few months, you could certainly understand McBride making a pitch to Mowbray about the chance of some first-team football for himself, regardless of what injury problems Rovers may or may not be facing.

 

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Lewis Thompson

Reinforcement in the left-back area was something of a key priority for Blackburn during the summer transfer window, and a deal for Barry Douglas from Leeds on deadline day ensured they ticked that box.

But with Douglas only on loan until the end of the season, and Rovers' other senior left-back - Amari'i Bell - also out of contract this summer, that position could once again be the centre of much attention come the end of this campaign.

Should that be the case, then Thompson may be keen to make a case for his own chance in the senior setup, having been a regular, reliable figure on the left-hand side of Blackburn's defence at both Under 18s and Under 23s level.

At 21, Thompson may feel his time is coming to finally push for a first-team spot, particularly if fellow academy graduate Joe Rankin-Costello starts to be used in a more advanced role for the senior role, than the full-back cover he has been providing during much of his time with the first-team in 2020.