Rovers are delighted to announce that defender Scott Wharton has committed his long-term future to the club.

The Blackburn-born youngster, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury, has signed a new three-year deal, which will keep him at Ewood Park until the summer of 2020.

A product of the club’s Academy, Wharton made his Rovers debut in the 2-2 draw at home to Burton Albion in August 2016.

He made three further first team appearances, scoring against Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Cup, before spending the second half of last season on loan at League Two club Cambridge United.

The 19-year-old, who hopes to return to training next week, couldn’t hide his delight after extending his stay with the club he has grown up supporting since he was a boy.

“I’m very pleased,” said Scott. “It’s a club that I want to be at and I want to play for.

“I’ve been here since I was 12, so it was a pretty straightforward decision for me and I’m looking to become a better player and I think I can do that here.

“I’m a local lad and I support the club as well, so it’s a club that I want to play for.

“Being around the first team squad is really good. I’m learning every day and becoming a better player, so I’m very happy.

“My season hasn’t really started yet, because I’ve had two injuries on the same ankle, which has been frustrating. I just need to get fit now and get back to work.”

Manager Tony Mowbray was pleased to tie down one of the club’s most promising players, who he believes will become a firm fixture in the first team over the coming years.

“I'm delighted,” said the Rovers boss. “I think it’s important that you have succession lines.

"Scotty Wharton is a young lad who has some fantastic qualities. He's a winner by nature, he has a nice left foot that can pass the ball into midfield or drop it over the top.

"Like most centre-halves, his body needs to fill out, he needs to get used to the physicality required to play against different types of centre forwards, but I have every confidence and belief that the boy is going to be a really good player for this football club moving forward.

“As time rolls on, I'm pretty sure his physicality and his game knowledge will grow. Whether that is by staying here and getting the odd game for us or playing for the Under-23s, or whether we send him out on loan again at some stage to play more league football, we'll wait and see, but I'm very confident that he'll be a fixture in the team over the coming years."