John Eustace insists Blackburn Rovers will continue to drop first-team players into the Under-21s to ensure they're ready to contribute.

The head coach has been keen for those not involved to top up their minutes with Mike Sheron's men. Makhtar Gueye, Lewis Baker and John Buckley all featured during the international break only for the match to be abandoned due to fog.

With 23 games coming up between now and the March break, Eustace insists he will need his squad to be at their maximum.

"We need to build people's game time. We have a terrific Under-21 set-up, two good coaches and great people coming through. Whenever the first-team players drop down, it is never a punishment. It's about trying to get minutes in their legs," he said.

"Lewis Baker played, Fadz the other week, Harry (Leonard) is playing. It's important no matter how old or young you are, if you're not getting the minutes on a Saturday or a Tuesday for the first-team, you go and get your minutes so when you are called upon, you're ready.

"We have 23 games now and it's all about the squad to make sure we get through it. We have to all pull in the right direction to try and finish as high as we can.

"We have proven with the amount of goals we have scored, seven from substitutes, that's the most in the league so far. It shows the squad are together. Whoever is called upon will be ready to make a difference.

"I don't try to break the games up, I try and attack each one as it comes, I know that's very cliche. You can get disappointed if you set targets for five-game blocks and don't get there.

"Different circumstances happen throughout the weeks so we have to take each one as it comes and the group will be ready."

He added: "I think the fans have been fantastic, going into last season, we weren't getting the wins but we stopped the defeats.

"I asked for togetherness with the players and the fans and we got that, it got us through some difficult moments and ultimately kept us up, it was a group effort.

"This year, from that first game at Derby, the fans have been amazing, home and away, they have been right behind the group.

"It's important we keep giving them the football they want to see."