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A Rovers Hat Trick

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Wednesday’s transfer deadline came and went with Blackburn allowing three players to move away from Ewood Park, be that on permanent arrangements or temporarily on loan.

Fresh from the midweek victory over Walsall, Tony Mowbray didn’t further dip into the January market to bring in players but the boss was happy to authorise this hat trick of player departures.

Connor Thomson became the first player to move on, his contract was mutually ended to allow him to ‘pursue his career at another club,’ which came a little over three-years on from his arrival from Carlisle – he was signed in December 2014.

The second player moved out was Scott Wharton, he joined Lincoln on loan.

Wharton, 20, has acted as cover for the likes of Charlie Mulgrew and Darragh Lenihan this season. However, he has only featured twice and with the Blackburn captain not as badly injured as first feared and Lenihan working his way back to full fitness – following an injury hampered campaign – it was decided he would benefit more from this spell at Lincoln.

Lincoln, pushing for a place in the League Two play-off places, will have the benefit of Wharton’s ability until the end of the season, which would be extended into the end of season play-offs should the Imps reach them.

The academy graduate will return though: ‘Everyone at Rovers wishes Scott well during his loan spell and look forward to welcoming him back at the end of the season,’ said the Official Website.

A player Blackburn wouldn’t have wanted to lose was Callum Wright, but the lure of the Premier League saw the teenage scholar prised away from Lancashire to join Leicester, just one of a number of topflight clubs who battled for his signature.

A professional contract was presented to Wright but ‘an exceptional offer’ for the 17-year-old wasn’t enough and the attacking midfielder moved on to Leicester on deadline day, joining the Foxes for an undisclosed fee.

Academy manager Stuart Jones told the Official Website: ‘Ultimately, we did everything we could to try and keep Callum, but the situation was taken out of our hands when Premier League clubs became interested. He’s a young player and when Premier League clubs came calling both he and his family were keen to move on.’

The fact Premier League clubs were looking at Wright should be seen as a continued positive as to the sort of players Blackburn are producing through the academy, these players will also be given a chance.

Jones added: ‘I think it reflects well on the quality and standard of players we’re producing at the Academy, and we will continue to develop players for the first team and work hard to keep them at this football club, because this is the ideal environment for young players to develop and progress. This has been demonstrated in recent weeks by the club’s commitment in getting a number of players from our Under-23 squad – and most recently John Buckley – to sign new long-term contracts.’

Yes, in an ideal world Mowbray would have added to the squad but with this seemingly good enough to get the job done we rock the boat? It goes without saying Wharton will benefit from his loan and keeping Wright would have been preferred but it wasn’t to be.

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