BLACKBURN Rovers U21s returned to winning ways in style with a 5-2 victory over Stoke City at Leigh Sports Village tonight.

Connor Mahoney (2), Dean Rittenberg (2 inc pen) and Modou Cham shared the strikes as Eric Kinder's impressive and improving young side immediately bounced back from their 3-1 loss at Middlesbrough on Monday.

It was the perfect send off for winger Mahoney before he joins up with the England U18s squad ahead of a clash with their Italian counterparts in Venice on Wednesday.

First-team midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe played 66 minutes of the match for Rovers.

The on-loan Fulham midfielder, who played in front of the back four, is ineligible to face his parent club in tomorrow's Championship encounter at Craven Cottage.