Rising prospect John Buckley has signed a new deal at Rovers, with the midfielder now aiming to kick on and earn his first team debut.

The teenager is rated highly at the club, not least by manager Tony Mowbray who is a regular at the Under-23s matches where Buckley has impressed.

His previous deal was set to run until next summer, but the club have moved to tie down one of their hottest prospects with a new deal through to June 2022.

Having joined the club's Academy at the age of six, Buckley has risen through the Rovers ranks to the fringes of the first team.

A technical midfield player, Buckley has trained with the senior squad in recent weeks and is now targeting a first team debut before the season is out.

He said: “I'm over the moon.

"It's something I've been working towards all season, to get a new contract, so hopefully I can just keep pushing on now.

"I think I've been playing well this year, in games and in training. Damien Johnson has helped me a lot and I think I've improved massively.

"I've been training with the first team quite regularly and I feel like I've done well.

"It's always good to train with better players because it helps to improve yourself.

"The senior players are always happy to help and answer any questions you've got and you pick things up, like communication and organisation skills, and that rubs off on you when you play for the Under-23s.

"To have that manager's trust in you, it gives you the confidence to keep pushing on.

"The manager gives young players opportunities and isn't afraid to put anybody in, so if I keep being professional and doing everything right in training, hopefully the chance to make my debut comes along.

"I was in here the other day with the Under-8s and I was one of them once, so it's been a lot of years and a lot of hard work, so to make my debut would be really special, but I just have to keep going."