BLACKBURN Rovers manager Owen Coyle has hit back at criticism of the reorganisation of the EFL Trophy by insisting the competition will be great for the development of young players.

Rovers this week accepted an invitation to take part in what was previously the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, one of 16 Category One academy clubs to enter this season.

They were drawn in Northern Group D alongside Fleetwood Town, Carlisle United and Oldham Athletic and will field a side which must contain at least six under-21 players.

Some lower league clubs have hit out at the new format, but Coyle believes it will be a great way to give youngsters game time against experienced opposition.

“I think it’s a fantastic thing for us because it allows our young players to get that game time against very good sides, teams that play at a higher level and our young players can only grow and learn from it,” said Coyle, who will name a youthful side for Rovers' final pre-season friendly away to Notts County today (3pm). 

“For those young players, you have to have six in the starting XI.

“It’s not six in 18, it’s six in the starting XI playing, as we’ve been drawn against, Oldham, Fleetwood and Carlisle.

“The young kids are getting a fantastic opportunity to play against very good sides and who’s to say they can’t progress and then they get a taste of that again?

“I think it’s a great learning curve for them and we’re delighted to be invited and to take the opportunity for these young players to continue to grow, to learn.

“Blackburn Rovers have always had a tremendous history of rearing young players and this can be another stepping stone to helping.

“The boys that have taken part with me in pre-season, Scott Wharton, Jack Doyle, they’ve done very well.

“(Connor) Mahoney has done very well for me. He’s one that I like.

“There’s a number of these players that are on the edge of the first team anyway, so it will give them great value to play in that tournament. 

“First and foremost it’s about the players getting the experience and understanding that when you give them loan spells in league football you do it for a purpose - that they can grow and learn and come back to you, the parent club, a better player.

“In this competition, that allows us to do that but to do it within our own environment which is a brilliant thing.”