A FORMER Rovers star believes Tony Mowbray might have the Championship find of the season in Tyrhys Dolan.

Kevin Gallacher was at Ewood Park to witness the 18-year-old’s senior debut in the Carabao Cup clash with Doncaster Rovers, in which he was influential in a comeback win.

Dolan was introduced from the bench after League One Doncaster took a surprise second half lead.

And the playmaker’s boundless, infectious energy and confidence in possession had an instant impact in lifting Rovers and turning the tie back in their favour.

Mowbray later admitted that he did not have first team plans for Dolan to begin with. Instead the expectation was that he would develop with Billy Barr’s Under 23s, after being released from Preston North End at the end of his youth team scholarship.

But dynamic Dolan has made an immediate impression on the Rovers boss, and after getting his first glimpse of the talented teenager in action on Saturday, Gallacher can see why - believing he could light up the Championship this season.

“Tyrhys caught my eye. His pace, his desire, his willingness to run and attack people, he was on the front foot,” said Gallacher, who won the Premier League with Rovers.

“You’re wondering why Preston would release him, but they don’t go up in a development squad and the space for him wasn’t there.

“The Blackburn Rovers scouts have obviously looked at him and thought there was something they can develop.

“But he’s already had an impact. He came on (against Doncaster) and put in a good performance.

“Sometimes it just takes running around a bit like a headless chicken to stir a team up. But he brought an urgency to the game and was influential.

“He actually reminds me of Robbie Savage with his enthusiasm to chase things down, to want the ball.

“Robbie is very similar in that he could come on, get on the ball and do something.”

And Gallacher, who played up front and out wide in his six-year spell at Ewood, believes Dolan’s versatility will be just as big an asset.

“I couldn’t compare him to Damien Duff or Damien Johnson, they’re a very different style of player,” he added.

“Tyrhys looks like he could play behind the centre forward and play out wide, and he looks like he’s a good addition.

“Hopefully now the coaches can develop him even further and he’s a bargain for the future.”