By Tom Blackett

Ash Phillips is eager to keep pushing forward at Blackburn Rovers having signed his first professional contract.
The 17-year-old defender has progressed through the club’s academy and has appeared in five games in all competitions this term. He has now committed his future to Rovers until June 2025.
“It’s a moment that my family and I have dreamt about for ages,” he told RoversTV after signing his deal. “Ever since I was a kid, I have always wanted to be a professional footballer. To finally have that is an amazing feeling. It’s massive, the hard work you put in pays off.
...