Blackburn go with youth

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has made it clear he will be focusing on bringing youth players through this season.

The Lancashire club have an abundance of talent coming through their ranks at Ewood Park and, added to the seasoned pros at the club, they could help the side overachieve this term.

Despite have one of the lowest transfer budgets in the Premier League, Allardyce’s side finished in the top half of the table last campaign. Some people made Blackburn betting tips for relegation this season, but they proved they are no pushovers when beating Everton last weekend.

This season will see a similar squad to last season with the only change so far being in the striking department. Young Argentinean Franco Di Santo has gone back to Chelsea and promising striker Mame Diouf has been brought in from Manchester United on a season-long loan. Diouf is highly thought of at Old Trafford and will be a good bet to score more than Di Santo’s one league goal during his time at the club.

Perhaps the hottest prospect at Blackburn is English centre-half Phil Jones. The defender’s performances last season caught the eye of some of the Premier League big boys – Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs were all reported to have sent scouts to watch the 18-year-old. 21-year-old French midfielder Steven N’Zonzi was brought to the club for less than £1 million last summer and went to win the club’s Player of the Year award after a brilliant first season in England. There are other exciting prospects at the club in the shape of Swedish left-back Martin Olsson and Canadian forward David Hoilett who recently put pen to paper on a new two-and-a-half-year contract.

Croatian striker Niko Kalinic is expected to improve on his poor form in the last campaign, when he only scored twice. The 22-year-old has started this season well, scoring in the first league game of the season against Everton. Much is expected of the talented forward who has shown glimpses of real quality since arriving from Hajduk Spit at the beginning of last season. Of course, the Andy Gray betting tips won’t give him a chance of being top scorer, but if he can bag ten goals that would be a very useful return.

The experienced players at the club will be integral to Blackburn’s success this season. Captain Ryan Nelson has been one of the most consistent centre-backs in the Premier League over the last five seasons. He will be ably assisted by fellow senior players Paul Robinson, David Dunn, Michel Salgado and Brett Emerton who all have bundles of experience in the top flight. With both the talented youngsters and experienced players in the side, Blackburn will prove a very awkward opponent this season.