THE future of Anthony O’Connor is in the hands of Blackburn Rovers.

That was the verdict of John Sheridan after O’Connor’s loan spell at Plymouth Argyle ended at the weekend.

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Plymouth boss Sheridan said: “Blackburn know we want to keep him and Anthony wants to stay. It’s really down to Blackburn.

“I will work hard to try to get him. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t happen, I have got to concentrate on who I am going to play.”

O’Connor made 29 appearances for the Pilgrims, either in a midfield holding role or a as centre-back, after joining them in August.

The 22-year-old has had previous loan spells in League Two with Burton Albion and Torquay United.

But he is yet to make a first-team appearance for Rovers and his contract runs out in the summer.

After returning to Brockhall on Monday O’Connor was thrust straight into action.

The Republic of Ireland U21s international was part of a strong Rovers development side that beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Leigh Sports Village to progress to the quarter-finals of the U21s Premier League Cup.

O’Connor was joined in Eric Kinder’s starting line-up by Jack O’Connell, John O’Sullivan, Jordan Slew and David Raya, players who also have returned from loan stints lower down the English football ladder.

Rovers U21s boss Kinder said: “They are men now compared to what they were when they left us and that is the idea in sending them out on loan, it makes them grow up.”