Not every footballer can make it. Some, sadly, fall by the wayside.

Unfortunately, that is the nature of the beast. The conversion rate from academy talent to first-team regular is far too small throughout English football.

At Blackburn Rovers, that trend is bucked. There has been a huge investment to keep the academy at Category 1. That isn't for show or good optics but the develop talent to sustain their future.

18 months ago, few knew about the talent of Adam Wharton. Or Harry Leonard. The list is endless. In pre-season, Jon Dahl Tomasson got to take a look at the next cabs of rank.

READ MORE: How Blackburn Rovers prepare their academy talent for Tomasson

Amongst those to move up to first-team pitches at the Brockhall Senior Training Centre is Harrison Wood. The 19-year-old has spent over a decade competing in the younger age groups with blue and white halves on his chest.

With Tomasson in the stands watching on, he netted and created the decisive goals as the Under-21s beat OGC Nice in the Premier League Interntional Cup. In the midst of the international break, most head coaches would be forgiven for taking some time to themselves and recharging their batteries.

At Rovers, things are a bit different and for the young players, it means that someone is always watching.

“Everyone wants to impress him," Wood said on Tomasson. "In pre-season, everyone wanted to go out and impress. There are always opportunities, you see it through the club. It is just about taking it and hopefully getting a chance at the end of it.

“You have got to be selfish and take your own opportunity. You have got to go and score goals, make blocks. You have got to do it yourself at the end of the day and make a career out of it.

“You are training with the best of the Championship, to be honest. You learn a lot from them and when you go up there, you are amazed by the quality and how far you have got to reach. Every day is a learning day. We always say you have got to impress and it is just about doing what you are good at.”

Wood was amongst those that went up for pre-season training in the summer. Whilst he is yet to make his first-team debut, those opportunities are there.

Consistency for the 21s is the best route to success. A little bit of luck with first-team injuries can open a door too. With Rovers short in attacking areas, that call could come sooner rather than later.

Mike Sheron and the Under-21s coaching team have ensured that those who make the step up know what the expect. They are not fish out of water.

The playing style is identical. They play with the same core principles and attacking shape. Synergy is vital to help the players adapt to what is a cut-throat world in professional football.

Wood believes that alignment within the club's structure is important to helping players make the grade. Whilst there are always periods of adjustment, the likes of Adam Wharton, Jake Garrett, Harry Leonard and Co have all made the step up.

“When you are in and around the first team, you know what to expect and you can go and express yourself in the way he wants you to do," he said. "It is a good thing that is dropping into the 21s as we saw tonight and hopefully, that gets you into the first team by doing it.

“It is massive (pathway). You look at Blackburn, the history and the players who come through, it is clear to see. It would be a dream come true if it was my chance one day but we will never stop grinding. Hopefully, one day it becomes a reality.”

On the pitch, Wood took his chance against Nice. He opened the scoring with a composed finish after being played through one-vs-one. It was a chance that many more senior players might have missed, with so much time to think about the finish.

Playing at Ewood Park makes the nights extra special for the teenagers. Whilst the ground might be filled with only a few hardened fans, it gives them inspiration that they can be scoring goals when Ewood Park is packed to the rafters.

“It is special. I remember the Youth Cup, it was my best period of football and I absolutely love playing here," Wood said. "It is what you want to do as a kid. I have been here over 10 years and it is a dream to score at Ewood each time.”

“It is just about composure. We’ve talked about it, composure in the final third. I am an attacker and I need to score goals.

“You have got to have confidence and back yourself. It is about the composure in the end and scoring, then you have to go again and get another goal.”