Tony Mowbray admits Lewis Travis may have saved the club a million-pound transfer fee given his impressive form since breaking in to the first team.

Travis is expected to make his fifth consecutive start in tonight’s FA Cup tie with Newcastle and now looks set to stay at Ewood Park rather than being sent out on loan.

The 21-year-old was expected to join a League One club this month, having been close to departing on a short-term basis in August.

But the midfielder has taken the opportunity afforded him by Richie Smallwood’s suspension and the Rovers boss is delighted with his progress.

“He has shown everyone what a talent he is,” said Mowbray. “Travis has shown that he can handle the league, his level of performances have been what they have in the Under-23s for the last 18 months.

“That transition from Under-23s football to first team, he has made very smoothly.

“It’s a positive, it’s probably saved the club some money with me not needing to go out and spend a £1million on a midfield player from somewhere else.

“He’s shown what he can bring to the team. At his best he’s very, very good, at his average worst he is very competitive and a real menace to play against.”

Travis was one of three Academy graduates who started the win at Millwall, along with David Raya and Darragh Lenihan, while Joe Nuttall, a member of the Under-23s squad for the last two years, was also involved.

Ryan Nyambe was introduced at the break while Dan Butterworth, a teenage forward handed a debut by Mowbray in August, was among the substitutes.

The boss has been key to hand opportunities to young players where possible and said his faith in the club’s rising prospects could see Paul Downing leave the club this month.

Owners Venky’s inject around £3m a year to fund the club’s Category One Academy status, with the Under-23s now competing at the top level of youth football following promotion last season.

On handing opportunities to young players the boss added: “The injuries at the moment have dictated that a little bit.

“Had Derrick Williams, Charlie Mulgrew and Smallwood been available then the bench might have looked a bit different.

“I do think you should try and promote youth players from your own set-up if you can. There’s a lot of investment every season in to the Academy and over the years there’s been a fair bit of success from the Academy.

“Depending on how far you want to go back, David Raya, Ryan Nyambe, Darragh Lenihan and Lewis Travis are all from the Academy, Dan Butterworth was on the bench.

“Is it paying dividends the £3m a year the owners invest or is it better to go down a category and save a bit of money and put that in to the first team? The evidence would suggest the Academy is paying dividends. In the past, there was obviously the Phil Jones sale.

“I like some of the young centre halves at our football club, and if the likes of Downing were to move on, it might open a door for one of them, as has happened with Travis.

“It’s looking okay underneath at the moment.”

Joe Grayson was handed his debut by Mowbray this season, one of eight Academy graduates to be blooded for the first time by Mowbray since he took charge in February 2017.

He added: “Every Academy has barren years of no players being produced, then you might have three on the bounce in one team. Then there was the classic case at Manchester United in 1992 of a host of players pushing each other through.

“Let’s wait and see. Our results, the development and progress of the club, will all dictate whether young players are ultimately good enough to take you where you want to be.”