Lowdown on nine Blackburn Rovers youngsters used in Bradford friendly

Antonis Stergiakis

The Greek goalkeeper played in the opening friendly at AFC Fylde and got his second run-out in the final 15 minutes at Valley Parade.

The 22-year-old signed a three-year deal, with a 12 month option, when joining from Slavia Sofia last summer, but is yet to make his senior debut.

Capped five times by Greece at Under-21 level, Stergiakis caught the eye with his distribution and athleticism in his 10 matches for the Under-23s last season, and did make the first-team bench on four occasions.

He has experience of 78 senior appearances across his career, but currently battling it out with Jordan Eastham to be third choice at Rovers, his involvement in pre-season aided by the absence of Aynsley Pears.

Louie Annesley

The defender is one of a handful of players to have featured in all three friendlies so far, but finally got to play in his preferred position after previously filling in at left back.

The majority of his senior football has come for Gibraltar, winning 22 caps by the age of 21, but is still waiting to make the breakthrough at Rovers.

Has played 24 times for the Under-23s since signing from Lincoln Red Imps in January 2019 and this summer penned a two-year contract extension, and has stressed his desire to go out on loan this summer should the opportunity arise.

A rangy, left-sided defender, Annesley has played at left back and in central midfield, but at 6’4, is best suited to playing in the heart of the defence.

Lenni Cirino

Travelled with the squad to the training camp in Scotland but had been unavailable for the opening two pre-season friendlies.

The 18-year-old got his opportunity, replacing Harry Pickering for the closing stages, as an excellent 2021 continued for the teenager.

He broke into the Under-23s side, making the left back berth his own in his 11 appearances, and while small in stature, he has a real desire to succeed, and is excellent defensively.

Signed his first professional contract in the summer and will look to get a full season of Premier League 2 football under his belt before seeing what the next stage of his development is.

A Rovers supporter, Cirino arrived at Rovers in 2017 having previously been with both Manchester City and Liverpool.

Jake Garrett

An eye-catching bit of business this summer was the four-year deal for Garrett who had already signed professional terms while a second year scholar.

His versatility is one real advantage for the 18-year-old, able to play in the heart of the defence, left back, but his preferred position, and one he has held down for the majority of his 14 Under-23s appearances, is central midfield.

Able to take the ball under pressure and take risks, as well as putting his foot in, Garrett is a tenacious character, willing to put his foot in.

It was a nervous start for the teenager, who was sent on just after the hour mark, as Rovers struggled to stem the flow of Bradford attacks, but another who stuck to his task.

Called by England Under-15s, Garrett has been with Rovers from the age of 10.

Joe Nolan

Followed the Tyrhys Dolan path of ending up at Rovers after being released by Preston, but for the midfielder, it was a dream move as a Rovers fan and former season ticket holder.

Scored four goals in his first seven games, form which earned him a permanent contract after initially arriving on trial.

A midfielder with an eye for goal, Nolan, who also featured at AFC Fylde, played in a deeper role at Bradford.

The 19-year-old started nine games, and made five substitute appearances, for the Under-23s last term and will look to become a firm fixture in the side next season.

Charlie Weston

Two weeks after his 17th birthday, the midfielder got his opportunity in the first-team, having not even yet made an appearance at Under-23s level.

Weston has represented England at Under-15 level and is one prospect who those within the Academy are particularly excited about.

A central midfield with excellent technical ability, Weston, moving into the second year of his scholarship, has made 28 appearances in the Under-18s Premier League.

The next step will be to try and break into the Under-23s which should come this season, with the prospect of a professional deal unlikely to be too far away.

Zak Gilsenan

Has quite the CV, having already represented Barcelona and Liverpool at Academy level, before joining Rovers as a 15-year-old.

Was born in Dublin, but can also represent Australia, with the two countries in something of a tug-of-war over his international allegiance.

Has signed a professional contract with Rovers and will look to make the step-up in to the Under-23s set-up after just a handful of appearances so far.

Netted with his head in the FA Youth Cup win over Preston North End in February 2020, and has scored nine times in 37 appearances for the Under-18s.

Can play across the forward line and has a languid style, his best attribute being his ability to drift past players when in possession, seen in flashes at the weekend.

Connor McBride

Scored the winner at AFC Fylde on the back of netting 12 times in his debut season at the club for the Under-23s.

Has loan interest from EFL clubs as a result, but has played in all three friendlies so far.

The 20-year-old signed last summer from Celtic, having been capped by Scotland at Under-17 level, and previously representing Stenhousemuir on loan.

Played from the left flank at Bradford, where he spent time for the Under-23s, but is more naturally suited to playing up front, or as a second striker in a two.

Takes an excellent penalty, and seems to have a happy knack of knowing where the ball drops in the box, as shown by the winning goal against Fylde earlier this month.

Has another year left on his contract, with the club also having a 12 month option.

Jack Vale

The Wales Under-21 international has had a rough time of things with injury, but still has time on his side, at 20, and two years left on his deal.

Had a disappointing loan spell at Rochdale in the second half of last season, playing just 44 minutes across three substitute appearances, this having just got himself back fit.

A senior debut in the final home game of the 2019/20 season against Reading, in which he went close to scoring when hitting the underside of the crossbar, was supposed to be the start of his breakthrough, but he’s played just a handful of games since.

Has nine goals and eight assists in 37 Under-23s appearances, while he burst onto the scene with a hat-trick in an FA Youth Cup fifth round win over Nottingham Forest in 2018.

Had one excellent run ended by a crude challenge at Bradford, but also wasted a good counter-attacking opportunity by picking the wrong option.

Needs games under his belt and to add some extra physicality to his game if he’s to play as a central striker.