'The kids saved our season last time out'

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is of the firm belief that Rovers could have been up a stream without an oar if the impressive crop of young talent hadn't been available to him in the 2009/10 season.

Rovers struggled to get off to a decent start last time out as a mass of players came in and out of the club at the speed only matched by men coming into Jordan's private life.

But Allardyce believes that when the injuries kicked in as they always do that the young lads were there and didn't let anyone down.

"In many ways the youth of Blackburn Rovers saved our season last time round," Allardyce told the Lancashire Telegraph.

"After a very, very iffy start because of the huge transformation of players in the squad and staff behind the scenes - that was a real disruption at the start of the season.

"As we grew and as we started playing younger players in the Carling Cup, and because we did so well in the Carling Cup, we then found players staking a claim to play in the first team.

"So when those players got injured the younger players stepped in, stepped up to the mark and some of the senior players found they couldn`t get back in again.

"We had six players playing in the first team from 21 or under and that is much, much better than the vast majority of Premier League sides in fact only Arsenal could beat that.

"And we finished 10th and that was something that made it an outstanding season. Tenth for me was like winning the Premier League and the Carling Cup semi final to boot was a great bonus."

Let's hope they can crack on and establish themselves this time around as with the lack of money at present they will be needed.

Who knows we may even see the likes of Josh Morris and Jackson Ramm cracking on as well as the ones who delighted last season?

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.