Hope At Rovers (But Not With The Cup!!)

Hope Akpan, Reading’s former Everton and Crawley Town midfielder, has signed for Blackburn Rovers.

Akpan isn’t a footballer I know too much about so I’ll simply have to back Gary Bowyer’s judgement once again on this signing. What I’d say though is he’s been a regular at Championship level for Reading.

Blackburn announced his signing on a two-year contract on The Official Blackburn Rovers Website on Tuesday, however, his arrival wasn’t made in time for him to make his debut against Shrewsbury Town as the SkyBet League 1 side knocked us out of the Capital One Cup at Ewood Park on Tuesday night!!

James Collins put Shrewsbury ahead with Liam Lawrence deflecting an effort into his own net to get Rovers level, however, Tyrone Barnett scored the winner minutes later to see a First Round exit for Rovers.

Twenty-three-year-old Akpan started his career with Everton, after time on loan with Hull City the midfielder eventually signed for Crawley with his talents earning a move to (the then) Barclays Premier League side Royals who agreed (it seems) to release him from the final year of his contract so he could join Rovers on a FREE transfer.

Nigerian International Akpan could make his debut at Huddersfield Town as Rovers seek a first win of the season after 2-1 defeats to Wolverhampton Wanderers and The Shrews (both at Ewood) with it third time luck at The John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon??