Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray praises youngsters ahead of Carlisle Utd trip

Keith Curle's Blues are unbeaten during pre-season so far. But, until now, they have only faced non-league opposition, beating Carlisle City, Penrith, Workington Reds and Blyth Spartans, while drawing with FC Halifax Town last Saturday.

But United will end their build-up to the kick-off to their League Two campaign, which will start at Brunton Park against Swindon a week on Saturday, against League One outfit Blackburn.

Under-23 players Andy Fisher, Jack Doyle, Willem Tomlinson, Scott Wharton and Lewis Hardcastle were part of the Rovers squad that travelled to Austria. While Joe Rankin-Costello, who turns 18 today, has featured in friendlies this summer.

"They have to try and stay with the first team over the course of the season," said Mowbray.

"It is part of the reason that they come away with the first team.

"If we can add a few more players over the next week or two it will hopefully beef up the squad a little bit, then we will see whether those young lads are still around it as we kick-off the season."

Head coach Mowbray added on Blackburn's website: "But they are doing extremely well, they are working really hard, they have got good quality about them, and it is just about using the young players at the right time.

"If we have got aspirations of being right at the top end of this league for most of the season if we can, sometimes the young players will have to play a bit-part around an experienced team that knows how to get the job done."

Rovers beat another Cumbrian outfit, Barrow, in their opening friendly of the season with former Carlisle United frontman Danny Graham netting the winner.

They have since lost to Czech side Sparta Prague in Austria, but thumped York City 8-0 and beat Morecambe 2-1 last Friday night. They were due to face Grimsby at Blundell Park last night.

Former Carlisle youth player Connor Thomson, on loan with Barrow at the end of last season, is also on Blackburn's books.