Keeping hold of Igor Tyjon is “massive” for Rovers and his rapid rise is a sign of the club’s “new strategy” for recruiting young talent.

Last week, Tyjon signed on as a scholar at Ewood Park despite attracting interest from Premier League clubs.

The 16-year-old has impressed in Rovers’ youth ranks since arriving from Rochdale last summer, initially playing for the Under-18 side and then scoring on his debut after being promoted to the Under-21 squad.

Tyjon was on the bench at first-team level during the Championship fixtures against Bristol City and Leicester last term.

He has also earned caps for both England and Poland at Under-16 level, scoring twice for each nation including a brace for the Young Lions against Saudi Arabia in February.

Stuart Jones, who has been head of Academy since 2017 and will now focus specifically on players agreed 17 to 21, believes the clear pathway to the first-team picture at Ewood Park is vital for developing young talent.

“I think Igor Tyjon recently signing is massive for the club and so it’s making sure players of that potential can be retained and developed within the programme,” he said.

“There was real interest from Premier League clubs in Igor, so it was really important for the football club that we retain our best talent.

“We sell opportunity and pathway here, and Igor is someone who has come into the first team environment and impressed during the start of pre-season.

“Credit to the club, the board and owners because Igor’s journey is slightly different - we paid a fee for him to come to the club from Rochdale at 15 and that’s probably a new strategy of our recruitment that we’re now looking to invest in young talent, put them in the programme and develop them. 

“I think young players coming through the system can see that there are opportunities and a pathway into our first team – Adam Wharton is a prime example of that – and so it’s really important that players of that calibre are retained.

“It also says a lot about the Academy, the people in the building and the work that goes on here that these players want to commit their longer-term futures to the club.”

Wharton’s dream season continued on Wednesday night as England booked their place in the Euro final.

The midfielder has been an unused substitute in Germany so far, although he did make an impressive international debut during a friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina last month.

The tournament has been another brilliant experience for Wharton, who made a seamless transition to Premier League football after heading to Crystal Palace for a club-record fee in the January window.

England will now come up against Spain on Sunday night and former Rovers goalkeeper David Raya is part of Luis de la Fuente’s squad. Raya started the final group match against Albania, keeping a clean sheet.

The shot stopper enjoyed a strong season with Arsenal as the Gunners finished second in the Premier League, only two points behind champions Manchester City.

Raya recently completed a permanent move to the Emirates from Brentford, netting Rovers a multi-million windfall.