Pool boss reluctant to rush young striker

Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer insists there is no need to rush highly-rated youngster Rowan Roache into first-team action.
Promising Pool striker Rowan RoachePromising Pool striker Rowan Roache
Promising Pool striker Rowan Roache

The 17-year-old striker bagged four goals in the youth team’s 7-2 win against Accrington Stanley on Tuesday, taking his season’s tally to 23.

The Pool boss said Roache, who has represented the Republic of Ireland's U17 team, could come into contention next season but now is probably too soon for him.

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He said: “It’s interesting because we had a behind closed doors game against Bury this week and it was a chance to have a look at some of the youngsters to see if they could make the step up.

“He’s a first year so you just have to give him time to adjust to full-time training.

“He’s been away with Ireland and because you don’t see him for a week or two he comes back and you notice he’s grown a little bit.

“It’s only on a day-to-basic you notice he’s still only 17 and he’s still growing and he’s got to keep adjusting.

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“He’s one that we'll certainly look at towards the end of the season thinking he might come into the squad.”

Blackpool have given some of their youngsters the chance to go out on loan this season to gain some experience of men's football, but Bowyer said Roache may be better served staying at Bloomfield Road for now.

“You’ve got to be careful with it,” he added. “We’ve done it with some but we’ve got a hell of a lot of games coming up in a short space of time so we’ve just got to be careful with that.”