Blackburn Rovers have already dipped their toe into the January market with two loan additions.

Whilst most of the headlines surrounded Lewis Travis' exit last Friday, Rovers fans were greeted with two new faces at Ewood Park.

Yasin Ayari arrived on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, with supporters getting a first glimpse of the 20-year-old as a substitute against Cambridge United.

Ben Chrisene followed, adding much-needed depth and competition at left-back. The Aston Villa youngster may not be a household name just yet but he's highly rated by those in the know in the Midlands.

So, who are the two new teenage acquisitions Rovers have moved for and what can everyone expect? Here's a deeper dive into the new recruits.

YASIN AYARI

What's his profile?

Ayari has arrived on loan from Brighton after his loan from Coventry was cut short. He made 13 appearances for the Sky Blues but with Callum O'Hare and Kasey Palmer returning to full fitness, his game time was set to be limited.

Jon Dahl Tomasson referenced that Ayari's style of play may suit Rovers better than Coventry's. Rovers are a more possession-based team than Mark Robins' side, who place emphasis on direct attacks, getting the ball as quickly as possible.

At 20, he is not a like-for-like replacement for Travis, though he will occupy similar areas to where the captain was used. Tomasson still expects Rovers to sign another midfielder though.

Where will he fit into the squad?

Tomasson and Ayari both said that he can play anywhere in Rovers' midfield. It seems clear though that he will be best suited to one of the number eight roles.

Sam Szmodics and Adam Wharton currently occupy those and will take some shifting. It's important for Rovers to have options though, with Joe Rankin-Costello on the sidelines and Travis at Ipswich.

Ayari seems a natural fit as an eight and can drift across the pitch. In terms of positioning, he's not too dissimilar to Andrew Moran, though he's even more suited to the middle. 

The touch map below shows where the midfielder is most active, looking across his career.

Lancashire Telegraph: Yasin Ayari's touch map.Yasin Ayari's touch map. (Image: Wyscout)So in terms of options. Sondre Tronstad is the first-choice holding midfielder, with Adam Wharton in reserve. The teenager is the number one right eight, with Szmodics on the left.

You then have Ayari, Rankin-Costello, Moran and Jake Garrett as options to fill either of the eight roles, as well as elsewhere across the pitch.

What are his strengths and weaknesses?

Ayari's skills are in possession. He is a clever passer and his diminutive frame gives him a low centre of gravity. 

That was clear in his cameo against Cambridge. It was only 15 minutes but there was one particularly neat passage of play which summed up what he'll offer.

Ayari receives the ball in a tight space, keeps close control and plays a clever reverse pass into space for Moran to run onto. He cuts it back for Arnor Sigurdsson and it should've been a goal.

Lancashire Telegraph: Yasin Ayari threads through Andrew Moran.Yasin Ayari threads through Andrew Moran. (Image: Wyscout)

BEN CHRISENE

What's his profile?

Chrisene is making his second season loan at Rovers having spent last season at Kilmarnock. That was cut short, sadly, due to a serious injury.

The left-back is now fit again and raring to make an impression. Chrisene has been capped at England youth level from Under-15s to Under-19s, highlighting how highly rated his is by Aston Villa and the national team.

Although he's only 19, he is viewed as quite vocal for his age. James Hill arrived with a similar reputation and was fantastic for Rovers before his loan was cut short.

Where will he fit into the squad?

Chrisene is a left-back and he'll provide competition for Harry Pickering. Rovers opted not to move anyone in that position in the summer, citing Jake Batty as a breakthrough option.

That hasn't worked out and they have now moved to get some cover. Over his short career, Chrisene seems to offer a different option to Pickering which gives Tomasson some tactical flexibility.

Pickering is often used as an inverted full-back, moving into midfield to help create overloads. He is crucial to the way Rovers build up from the back.

What he perhaps lacks is a burst of real pace and thrust in the final third, in the style of a more traditional wing-back. Pickering's best qualities are on the ball, rather than off it.

Chrisene likes to dribble at the ball and has a burst of acceleration to take on and beat his man. The touch map below shows how the left-back is often quite advanced and comfortable in the final third.

Lancashire Telegraph: Ben Chrisene's touch map.Ben Chrisene's touch map. (Image: Canva)

What are his strengths and weaknesses?

Chrisene is a more traditional-styled full-back. He is happy to defend one-vs-one but also loves to get forward.

He will give Rovers a better balance, rather than having to shuffle Callum Brittain to left-back in the absence of Pickering.

The clip below, taken from his loan at Kilmarnock shows him picking the ball up and driving at his marker, attacking the space in front of him. There is an easy pass backwards to the midfielder but instead, he takes on his man and goes past him to create an attacking opportunity.

Lancashire Telegraph: Ben Chrisene takes on his man and drives into space.Ben Chrisene takes on his man and drives into space. (Image: Ben Chrisene takes on his man and drives into space.)