Joe Nolan has signed a professional contract with Rovers after a spell on trial.

The midfielder scored in the Premier League 2 win at Derby County last month and has now signed a permanent deal at Ewood Park through to the summer of 2022.

Rovers had monitored Nolan over the course of the last month, the midfielder having been released by Preston North End in the summer, just like Tyrhys Dolan who has enjoyed a meteoric rise into the first-team having initially been signed to be part of the Under-23s group.

Like Dolan, Nolan played against Rovers in the FA Youth Cup tie earlier this season at Ewood Park and has also since turned out for non-league outfit Runcorn Linnets.

Nolan had an injury disrupted first year of his scholarship and was let go by North End in the summer after nine years with the club, but has now signed a professional deal after a spell training with the club.

A Rovers fan, Nolan is set to become part of Billy Barr’s Under-23s squad initially, with a spot opening up in the midfield area for the second half of the season with Brad Lyons having been allowed to join League Two side Morecambe on loan.

The 18-year-old will look to feature for the Under-23s in their next Premier League 2 fixture against Manchester on January 25.