Adam Wharton was left to reflect on a surreal, but special, night for his family as he and brother Scott played alongside each other for the first time.

Wharton junior made his senior debut on a night where older brother Scott opened the scoring in a 4-0 Carabao Cup win over Hartlepool United.

The pair had played alongside each other for the Under-23s last season, as well as in pre-season, but the moment everyone had waited for came in Wednesday night’s league cup tie as they were named in the same starting XI.

They were the first pair of brothers to play for the club since the Olssons in 2013, and sixth overall.

The Salesbury-born pair were part of seven Academy produced players to feature in the 4-0 win.

 Eighteen-year-old Adam said: “It’s a bit crazy when you think about it. When you’re in the game you don’t think about, you’re just focusing on the football.

“After the game it’s pretty surreal to think about it.

“I didn’t think it would happen.

“It was more and more likely through the age groups, but when I was younger I didn’t think about it.

“I was just focused on my football but last year I played with him in the Under-23s so it was getting closer to happening and now I’m glad that it has.”

Adam, a technical left-footed midfield player, signed his first professional contract with Rovers earlier this year and was on the bench for the opening day win over QPR.

“I’ve been here since I was a kid so I’ve been dreaming about it many times. It’s a great feeling,” he said of his debut.

“To finally do it infront of the fans at Ewood, it was a special night for me and my family.

“I’m buzzing.”

Having travelled with the squad, but didn’t make the bench, at Swansea Wharton says it serves as a reminder both of how far he’s come, but also the hard work that is required.

While he has seen elder brother Scott spend successive seasons out on loan, Rovers’ plan appears to keep him around the first-team squad for this season.

“I’m still young, I’ve got plenty of time,” he explained.

“I’m still only young, there’s plenty of time for me to make the squad and keep getting better.

“I’m happy here developing under the new gaffer and his staff.

“I want to keep getting better and better in training, striving to improve, and hopefully my time will come.”

His technical ability has never been in question, but he accepts that he has needed to work on his fitness.

He tired towards the end of the game, but his distance covered in the game was high and a result of the hard yards he was putting in.

Jon Dahl Tomasson is clearly a fan, and is working with his coaching staff to help develop his work off the ball, but sees real talent in one of the club’s brightest talents.

“I was tiring towards the end, I got a few knocks so the legs were definitely fatiguing,” Wharton added.

“It’s tough, it’s not always enjoyable, but it’s good when you’re winning and doing the hard yards.

“Ever since he’s come in the training has been intense as everyone’s said.

“Everyone is buying into it and it’s working.

“I feel a lot fitter within myself.

“Last year I’d struggled towards the end of the 90 minutes.

“I was struggling towards the end but I’m running more, my intensity is up on the data, so it’s all about working and it paying off.”

Wharton was part of the matchday squad for the FA Cup third round tie at Wigan Athletic in January.

He was a regular in the Under-23s last season, as well as training alongside the first-team at times.

But he has been involved throughout Tomasson’s time at the club which has proven to be a real confidence boost.

He said: “It’s been the first time I’ve fully been involved with the first team.

“Last year I was integrated in and out throughout the weeks, training with them.

“This year I’ve been with them every day and it’s been a great pre-season personally and I just need to push on and keep improving.”

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