Tony Mowbray has told three of the club’s most talented youngsters to continue impressing in the Under-23s after spells around the first teams of late.

Defender Tyler Magloire and John Buckley both made their debuts this month, while Dan Butterworth has been on the fringes of the squad after two Carabao Cup appearances earlier this season.

With several senior players returning from injury, the trio won’t be part of the travelling party to Aston Villa this weekend, but have all signed long-term deals at the club this calendar year as a show of faith from the club in their talent.

And Mowbray wants to see them continue to shine with Damien Johnson’s Under-23s side, rather than being downhearted by not travelling with the squad.

He said: “It’s all of our responsibilities. I sat Butterworth, Magloire and Buckley down in my office on Thursday and explained to them how well they’ve been doing. Great credit to them for being around our first team and got some game-time.

“But to make sure they don’t go back and sulk in the Under-23s. It’s great that I’ve seen them practicing, kicking the ball around, scoring goals after hours and not going home at 1pm. .

“They are out there doing more training.

“I think they all have big futures and I’m sure we will see them again this season at some point, but at this moment we need to win football matches with the players that we trust and know, players who have done so well for so long for us.

“We need to get the job done, win some games and finish he season. Then we need to get to the summer and get the recruitment right, finding players who will make the first XI better week in, week out.”