BLACKBURN Rovers U21s boss Eric Kinder would not stand in the way of any of player going out on loan to further their development – even if it means jeopardising his young and improving side’s impressive start to the season.

Rovers beat a more experienced Preston North End team 1-0 at a sun-kissed Brockhall on Tuesday to progress to the quarter-finals of the Lancashire FA Senior Cup.

The well deserved, if ultimately hard fought, victory came hot on the heels of a 2-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion and an agonising 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa in the U21s Premier League.

Republic of Ireland U21s international centre back Darragh Lenihan got the only goal of the game against the Lilywhites and there is a strong possibility he will spend time away from Rovers for the first time since joining the club in the summer of 2011.

Right back Kellen Daly and midfielder John O’Sullivan, who finished last season on loan at Southport in the Conference Premier, could also go back out again.

And Kinder would have no problems with that.

He said: “If we’d been a bit stronger and had a bit more nous about us against Villa we’d never have conceded that 95th-minute equaliser and we would have had three clean sheets to start the season which is incredible after the number of goals we conceded last season.

“I’ve got to say the back five have been very good. David Raya looks a top, top drawer goalkeeper, we’ve had two second year Academy players, Sam Lavelle and Jack Doyle, come into it and they’ve looked years above what they are, and then we’ve got the old men, Darragh, who just continues to grow at centre half, and Kellen, who has come back a completely different player.

“So we can be selfish and say we don’t want them to go and that we want to keep them together and have a half-decent season.

“But that’s not fair and that’s not my job. My job is to get them playing League football for this club and if somebody rings up and we think it is right for their development, we’ll do it.

“It’s no good winning the Lancashire Senior Cup and Darragh, for example, playing for a lower-league club for the rest of his career.

“I’d rather get beat in it, him go out on loan and he then come back and play 200 games for the first team here. That’s the way we’ve got to look at it.

“So if somebody comes in and the gaffer, Gary Bowyer, thinks it is right, they’ll go out with our blessing and hopefully come back better players.”

The U21s continue their league programme away to Middlesbrough on Monday (7pm).

They will make the trip to the Riverside Stadium boosted by the return of highly rated midfield duo Connor Mahoney and Hyuga Tanner from long-term injuries.

The 17-year-olds both impressed in their comeback match against Preston on Tuesday.

And Kinder said: “Connor came to life in the second half and Hyuga is always pleasing on the eye because he’s comfortable on the ball.

“Now we’ve got to keep both of them on the pitch as we’ve had trouble doing that. Both have just turned 17 and both of them have had serious injuries.

“We’re pushing them to play U21s football when they should still be playing Academy football but their ability means they can step up and handle it quite easily.

“So we’re going to have to look after them and once they are 100 per cent fit, we need them on the pitch for six months on the run.”

Kinder’s squad at Middlesbrough on Monday is likely to include new keeper Ryan Crump.

The 18-year-old is still waiting to make his first appearance for the U21s after signing from Liverpool on a one-year deal last month.

Crump, who has represented Scotland at U17s level, said: “I was at Liverpool for five years but now I’ve come to Blackburn to develop my career.

“Liverpool’s facilities are great but I wouldn’t say Blackburn’s are that far behind.

“I think you can learn and develop as much here as I would at Liverpool.

“There are a lot of great keepers to learn from here. You pick up stuff and see what you can get out of it yourself.

“I’m delighted to have signed for Blackburn Rovers.”

Rovers U21s welcome Stoke City to Leigh Sports Village on Friday, September 19 (7pm).

Supporters can see the match for free by registering at www.leighsportsvillage.co.uk/rovers.

Season ticket holders can also gain free admission on production of their season ticket cards.