PAUL Lambert has no doubt that John O’Sullivan has talent – but he believes his latest spell away from Ewood Park will strengthen his chances of making the Blackburn Rovers first team.

O’Sullivan yesterday joined League One outfit Rochdale on loan just 48 hours after signing a new 12-month contract extension with Rovers.

The 22-year-old attacker has spent spells on loan at Barnsley, Accrington Stanley and Southport in the last two seasons.

And, after failing to make the bench in Lambert’s first game in charge of Rovers, he will now remain at Spotland until January 3.

“I think it’s important for any young player to play men’s football and I think John going out will do him the world of good,” said new Rovers boss Lambert.

“He will start to realise that it’s not a hobby anymore. It’s a job and you have to earn a living out of it, and you’ve got to try and get as high as you possible can in your own career.

“And for our football club it’s important he went out because hopefully when he comes back he’ll be a little bit more ready for it.

“And he does need to do a bit more to force his way into this group. I spoke to him the other day and he wanted to go out on loan, which is great. He wasn’t just sitting here, thinking ‘I’m quite happy’. He wanted to go out and play men’s football.

“I said to him ‘you’ve got to go out and do it’, and he’ll come back a better player for it, the more games he plays.

“He’s definitely a talent, it just needs to be brought out a little bit more.”