The visit of Luton Town will mark 550 consecutive league matches in which Rovers have named an Academy graduate in their matchday squad.

There could be as many as six, with Under-23s boss Mike Sheron saying it is a milestone that should be celebrated by everyone associated with the Academy.

The 500 was reached with the 5-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers almost 12 months ago, while it 4,606 days since Rovers failed to name a graduate in a squad, that coming in a 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers on January 28 2009.

Tony Mowbray is the eighth permanent manager to continue the trend since then, with the club continuing to produce players from their Brockhall base into the first-team.

“We’re a Category One Academy with some very knowledgeable and conscientious coaches, and not just coaches, sports scientists, people on the admin side, they all want to make sure we do things right and correctly,” said Sheron, appointed full-time Under-23s boss last week.

“It’s great when you see when they do go up the first-team like them. Everyone’s journey is different but it really is pleasing when you see a young lad go up and impress by doing the things you see them doing every day.”

Head of Academy Stuart Jones is the man entrusted with helping to produce the next generation of stars, with no team in the Championship having handed more minutes to homegrown stars than Rovers last season.

Captain Darragh Lenihan is one of those, with Ryan Nyambe and Lewis Travis established members of the first-team, with John Buckley, Joe Rankin-Costello and Scott Wharton looking to take on that mantle.

There are high hopes for a number of players coming through the ranks, with the Under-18s having enjoyed a 100 per cent start to their league season, while 16-year-old defender Ash Phillips has represented England at Under-17 level during the international break.

Sheron believes the environment that has been created around the club will help the Academy continue to thrive, with the club continuing to compete with the best teams in the land at age group level.

“I love working at Blackburn Rovers and in the environment we’ve got, how the first-team environment helps and encourages the progression of the young lads,” he added.

“Lewis Travis, Darragh Lenihan, Ryan Nyambe, there’s plenty of examples and has been for years.

“There has obviously been good practice going on for a number of years now and it’s really rewarding to see young lads do well and part of our job is to keep giving them the right information, the right challenges, and seeing how they progress.

“It’s great to see them take advantage of the opportunities they are given.”