Zak Gilsenan staked his claim for a Blackburn Rovers first-team spot after scoring again in a 5-1 route over Nottingham Forest Under-21s.

Gilsenan was joined by several players hoping to catch John Eustace's eye. With a free week before facing Middlesbrough, Billy Koumetio, Connor O'Riordan, Dilan Markanday and Semir Telalovic were all handed starts.

It turned out to be a route for Rovers, who led 4-0 before half-time with all the goals coming in the final 16 minutes of the half.

Gilsenan opened the floodgates on 29' with Telalovic and Markanday scoring twice in the next five minutes. Jake Batty then added the fourth on the stroke of half-time.

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The second half was a more low-key affair with Ben Perry pulling a goal back before Leo Duru restored the four-goal margin with 10 minutes to go, ensuring a comprehensive 5-1 victory for Mike Sheron's side.

Supporters have been keen to see more from Gilsenan in the first team with Rovers' attack struggling for a spark in recent weeks. The Republic of Ireland youth international has only featured for five minutes under John Eustace, as a substitute at Swansea City.

Gilsenan was nominated for February's Premier League 2Player of the Month after scoring nine goals in six outings for Rovers. He missed out on the award to Liverpool's Jayden Danns.

Isaac Whitehall continued his recovery from injury with another start in midfield. The 21-year-old recently made his long-awaited comeback from injury after 996 days on the sidelines and four operations on a persistent foot injury.

“To be back on the pitch has felt so good,” he told RoversTV. "It’s been amazing and what everyone who plays football wants to do.
“When you are just playing, sometimes you can take for granted what you have. I’ve learnt not to take anything for granted because it could all stop tomorrow. 

“The last two-and-a-half years have been really challenging, really difficult. There aren’t many players at all who have gone through that period being out and not even being back in training.

“Being able to look to the future and visualising being back on the pitch, as well as the support from family, friends, team-mates and coaches, that all kept me going the whole time."