GARY Bowyer knows firsthand the danger Hull City midfielder Tom Huddlestone could pose to his Blackburn Rovers side in tomorrow’s Championship clash.

The Rovers boss first came across the deep-lying playmaker when he helped bring him to Derby County at the age of 12.

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Bowyer coached Huddlestone four years before he broke into the Rams’ first team at the age of 16.

And he has taken great pride in the progress the four-capped England international has made since then.

Bowyer, who worked in Derby’s academy before joining Rovers in 2004, said: “I used to pick Tom up from under-12 to under-16, under-17, as he lived around the corner from us.

“He has an unbelievable talent, fantastic technical ability. Only through working with him would you know which his slightly weaker foot is – and I do mean slightly weaker.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the lad, I’m delighted he’s done as well as he has, and in my opinion he’s a Premier League player.

“We’ve got to make sure we limit the amount of ball he has on Saturday.”

Hull have managed to keep hold of Huddlestone, a £5.25m arrival from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2013, despite their relegation.

But Bowyer believes he is not the only player in their squad who should still be operating in the top flight.

“When you go through their squad, and see all the Premier League players they have got, it’s a hell of squad Steve Bruce has,” said Bowyer, who watched the Tigers knock Swansea City out of the Capital One Cup in midweek despite making nine changes.

“And he’s added some good players to it, so for me they’re going to be right up there.”