Rovers to watch Marrow grow

Seventeen-year-old offered contract until the end of the season

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 19th February 2008

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Blackburn chairman John Williams insists the club will not 'turn its back' on young British talent after offering Alex Marrow a contract until the end of the season.

Rovers recently moved to secure Marrow until the summer after the 17-year-old midfielder won a keep-up competition in January to impress reserve team boss Glyn Hodges.

Marrow has already featured for Rovers' Under 18 and reserve sides and the club are hoping he will follow in the footsteps of England Under 21 striker Matt Derbyshire, who was plucked from non-league obscurity before going on to impress in Mark Hughes' first team.

Some Premier League clubs have been criticised over recent seasons for their failure to favour home grown talent over foreign imports but, following Marrow's signing, Rovers insist this is not the case at Ewood Park.

"From our point of view, we cannot afford to miss any opportunity to pick up good young players," Williams told the Lancashire Telegraph.

Derbyshire example

"Matt Derbyshire is a good example. It's important that we don't turn our backs on promising young players like him. We must explore every avenue.

"With Alex, he came to us after he won a keepy-uppy competition and he's been recommended by Glyn Hodges.

"They already like him down there. They've seen something in him, and we've given him a contract until the end of the season.

"It gives the lad a few months to show us what he's all about, and he's already had a little taste of things in the reserves against Manchester United."

Meanwhile, Blackburn deny they are interested in signing Michael Mifsud after reports linked Hughes with a £5million move for the Coventry forward.