Back in August, after signing permanently for Rovers and ending his long association with boyhood team Newcastle, Adam Armstrong was sent a good luck message from Alan Shearer, a legend of both clubs.

It was hoped when coming through the ranks on Tyneside that Armstrong, smaller in stature but with the same thirst for goals as Shearer, could be the Magpies’ next homegrown hero.

Shola Ameobi, Michael Chopra, Nile Ranger and Andy Carroll all had varying levels of success after progressing in to the first team, with Armstrong another with who boasted excellent potential and pedigree.

But he left St James’ Park in the summer on a permanent deal after just 21 appearances for the club, and four separate loan moves away. That was too soon according to some fans and former players.

Despite the disappointment of things not working out at the club he’s supported all his life, Armstrong admits he never felt over-burdened by the pressure of being likened to his boyhood hero Shearer.

“I think there’s four or five strikers who’ve been labelled the next Alan Shearer but it hasn’t quite happened. That’s just football, I think that has happened at every club,” he explained.

“Every club wants their Academy players to get a chance and do well and I didn’t think I quite got the chances I should have at Newcastle but it’s one of those things, it’s football.

“We weren’t doing well at the time and it would have been hard to chuck me in and say ‘deal with this’. It was one of the things I had to get on with.

“I don’t think there’s any extra pressure. I knew at the time I was good enough. I made my debut under (Alan) Pardew and I’m still thankful to this day for what he did for me.

“It was one of those things where I had the chance to leave and having the chance to join such a big club as Blackburn, I thrived off that.

“I feel I’m playing well and I’m enjoying myself.”

Armstrong was just 17 when he made the first of four substitute appearances in the 2013/14 season. Fifteen more followed in the following campaign, including a first start in the League Cup at Crystal Palace, before a first Premier League start against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. However, that proved to be his only league start for the club, and when asked if he felt he didn’t get the opportunities he deserved, the 21-year-old said: “You could say that.

“I don’t think I had the opportunities I should have got, but I’ve moved on. You can see that there are a lot of lads from the Newcastle Academy leaving and going out on loan and hopefully they can push on to the first team.”

Rovers enjoyed many battles with Newcastle during their Premier League years, but both have had falls from grace in recent times.

The Magpies are back in the top flight but continue while Rovers have returned to the Championship after a spell in League One.

“I’ve been there as a kid, supported them all my life. Growing up and playing for them in the Academy was good for me and to play for the first team like I did was massive for me,” Armstrong said.

“They got to the Europa League with Pardew and things were going well and all of a sudden things went downhill. In football things change every day, new players come in, others leave.

“They have the fans, the stadium, they just need the backing and I’m sure they can get back there.

“The fanbase, the whole city, everyone is together, whether you’re having a good day or a bad day then they are always with you.

“Hopefully they can start turning their results around and push up the Premier League table.”

Armstrong will be desperate to feature this afternoon in a game he described as his ‘dream draw’ with his current employers and boyhood team paired together in the FA Cup third round.

But he shrugged off suggestions he had something to prove, adding: “I’m like that every game, that’s football. I’m working hard every day and not just because it’s Newcastle, it’s one of them when it will a good day for me and my family.

“I feel I am a much better player a year on, I’ve learned a lot, I’m still young and learning from the people around me so it’s a good place to be.”