John Buckley is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Lewis Travis after making his Rovers debut against Sheffield Wednesday.

Buckley partnered Travis in the closing stages at Hillsborough as Rovers finished the game with five Academy graduates on the pitch. His was the second debut in as many matches to be handed out by manager Tony Mowbray after Tyler Magloire was given his chance to step up from the Under-23s.

Travis has become a mainstay of the side since his breakthrough in December and Buckley says playing alongside the 21-year-old on Saturday helped him settle.

Buckley, who has been at Rovers since the age of eight, played 80 minutes for the Under-23s less than 24 hours before his first team debut.

“I have played with him a couple of times in midfield so I felt a bit more comfortable,” Buckley told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“He’s had a pathway to the first team and played quite a few games recently so I’m going to try and kick on and do the same.”

Buckley replaced Corry Evans midway through the second half of the 4-2 defeat.

He had been one of a number of players earmarked for a debut by Mowbray in the final weeks of this season.

In making his debut, Buckley became the 10th Academy graduate to be handed a debut by Mowbray who marked two years in the job last month.

And while Buckley was disappointed his ended with a 4-2 defeat, Rovers’ seventh in their last nine matches, the experience is one he won’t forget in a hurry.

He added: “I was over the moon to make my debut but gutted with the result. They were four sloppy goals that we needed to do better with.

“I knew I was travelling, but didn’t know whether I was going to be on the bench or 19th man.

“When you’re on the bench it’s not unexpected, but I was a bit surprised and overwhelmed. But I knew I had to go and try and impact the game.

“I was happy with my performance but felt I could have got on the ball more and made a few more forward passes.

“Hopefully I will get more opportunities now.”

Buckley was 19th man for the win over Wigan at Ewood Park four days before making his debut and he admits that made it easier for him to settle in to the first team environment.

“I was more nervous the other day (against Wigan) when I was 19th man. That was my first time and the first time around the surroundings,” the 19-year-old said.

“I got a bit more used to it and all the lads welcomed me and made me feel comfortable.”