DARRAGH Lenihan is set to make his breakthrough into the Blackburn Rovers first team.

The 21-year-old midfielder has been an unused substitute in Gary Bowyer’s side’s last 10 matches after being recalled from a successful loan spell at Burton Albion.

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And Rovers boss Bowyer said: “David Raya and John O’Sullivan have been blooded in, Darragh Lenihan is in and around it, and I’m sure I’ll give him a go beforehand because we need to know if he can step up.”

Rovers U21s head to St Mary’s on Monday for the second leg of their U21s Premier League Cup final against Southampton (7pm).

And Bowyer said: “I thought they did ever so well to hold a very strong and experienced Southampton team to a 0-0 draw and we wish them all the very best on Monday.

“We’re looking at that group and we’re asking, ‘are any of them ready to step up yet?’ “But it’s a big ask because you’ve got two first year and three second year (scholars) in there.”