Wes Brown

Blackburn Rovers lost 2-0 to Newcastle in a battle between the Under 23 sides.

Damien Johnson’s men could not get the needed win at Leyland despite senior players playing. Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown, Jack Byrne and Anthony Stokes played full game but could not hinder the loss. Rovers signed Brown during the summer on a free transfer. He is expected to play until the end of the term whilst helping coaches David Dunn and Johnson train the back-up team. Injuries forced his exit from Sunderland at the end of last season, hence the decision of the 36-year old to play and coach Rovers.

“Obviously we are disappointed with the result. In terms of performance, between the boxes we were good, it was just the final third where we were poor in terms of our final cross, too many times it was in the keeper’s hands or it stuck the first man and that is the last little bit that is important

“We started the second half poorly and it was disappointing to concede from a set-piece, there was some good play from us but the goals were disappointing,” Coach Johnson said.
Byrne showed some quality and Connor Mahoney was impressive in the beginning. They had chances but did not convert them. Luke Charman threatened for United on the other end but was stopped by Andy Fisher.

The visitors got their first goal in the 55th minute through Stuart Findlay. In the 84th minute, Callum Roberts got the second to sink Rovers.

Wes Brown is no longer a regular starter in Blackburn Rovers as the veteran defender has started taking up a more tactical role with the English Championship League club by forming part of the Blackburn Rovers Under-23s and Academy staff and the experienced defender has recently gone out to praise one of the rising stars of the youth academy.

Scott Wharton is a 19 year old defender that has already made his debut with the first team of Blackburn Rovers and Wes Brown believes that Scott has what it takes to become a top player if he continues playing and developing how he has been in the past few years.

“I remember the first game Scotty played in this season (against Burton Albion) and I thought he did really well. It’s very different for defenders, because if you make a mistake then you’re in trouble, but he’s been excellent. He’s been excellent in the games, excellent in training, and I’m sure the gaffer has got faith in him and will play him.

Scott has not only been given playing time for the English League Championship but also in the English League Cup and this shows just how much confidence that all of the head chiefs of Blackburn Rovers have placed on the rising star who was recently praised by Wes Brown as the veteran player is certain that Scott Wharton can become a mainstay for Blackburn Rovers who can help them in winning titles and do great things for the club.

Whether or not Scott Wharton is able to live up to all the expectations that is being placed by his fellow teammates and coaches is something that remains to be seen and only time will tell but he has plenty of time to prove his worth at the big stage.

After signing for Blackburn Rovers in the summer, former Manchester United defender Wes Brown believes that he is still not ready to call it a day.

At the age of 36, Brown is clearly approaching the end of his career. After having spent the last couple of years at Sunderland, he has been allowed to leave the Stadium of Light by manager David Moyes upon taking over at the club. It would be thought that Moyes would retain the services of Brown, as he is hugely experienced with regard to the Premier League. However, Sunderland instead went for new players at the back.

Brown represented United from 1998 to 2011. He was part of the incredibly successful teams assembled by Sir Alex Ferguson which went on to win numerous league titles and one Champions League medal. Blackburn have promotion aspirations, but it has not been translated into the playing squad. As a result, the club are expected to face a major fight just to get into the top six of the Championship table. Even if the club are not promoted, it looks like Brown has the ambition to keep on playing for the next couple of years. Brown only has a contract until the end of the campaign and he will have to prove his fitness in order to sign a new deal.

“I don’t think it’s ever come into my head that I can’t be bothered anymore or I don’t need it anymore.It’s always still the same for me. As long as these (legs) can do it I’m pretty sure I’ll be trying to do it. My calf was feeling a bit tight and maybe I should have been more senior and mature and not done the running that day. It’s just my nature to carry on. But even when the injury happened the manager was fine, he just told me to get it right, get back in training, have a few games, and we’d get something sorted,” said Brown.

Wes Brown has been a free agent since he was released by Sunderland in the Premier League season of 2015-16.

Ever since he became a free agent, the English defender has been training with Blackburn Rovers and there is a chance that he could turn into a summer signing for the English League Championship club, depending on how he performs in the upcoming few weeks.

The 36 year old English defender is currently recovering from a calf injury that he sustained and when Wes Brown does indeed get completely healed and ready to perform in a match, Brown is going to be tested and evaluated. Depending on how the veteran defender performs in these tests and friendly encounters, it will determine on whether or not he gets a contract with Blackburn Rovers.

The manager of Blackburn Rovers, Owen Coyle has recently talked about Wes Brown and his current situation as the Scottish manager said: “Wes is still here. I’ve been so frustrated for him. He’s a great man, he’s a fantastic player, and he was out on Monday doing a little bit, so hopefully he’s progressing the right way.

“He’s had an ongoing calf problem so I think to be fair to Dave Fevre and the group they shut him down a little bit to allow it to clear completely.Hopefully now he’s stepping up to do some positive training and then we’ll look to get him in some behind-closed-doors games at some point and we’ll take it from there.

“We’ve had a good chat and I’ve told him he can stay here as long as he needs to get fully fit and once he’s up and running, and he’s feeling good about himself, and I’m feeling good about the situation, we’ll have a chat man to man.“He’s comfortable with that, as I am.”

Owen Coyle stated that he will give enough time to Wes Brown so that the defender can recover and he even has the chance to get in the first team and perform consistently.

After being released by Sunderland, Wes Brown is now searching for a new club, for a place where he can perform and probably spend the last few years of his career. One of the clubs that has been linked with the veteran defender is Blackburn Rovers as this is where he is currently training right now after his time with Sunderland reached its limit.

The head coach of Blackburn Rovers, Owen Coyle has revealed details concerning the possibility of signing Wes Brown as he said: “Wes Brown has had such an illustrious career and is an outstanding player. The games he played last year with Sunderland in the Premier League, he was an outstanding player. I said to Wes come in and enjoy his pre-season and have a look at things. He has a number of offers on the table and he was in no rush. So I said, ‘Why don’t you come in, enjoy what you’re doing here, feel good about your game, and you and I will have a chat going forward’. It’s as simple as that.”

Wes Brown is currently training with Blackburn Rovers for pre-season training and depending on how he performs there; it will be a big factor in whether or not the experienced defender does or does not join the Championship League club within the upcoming few days or weeks.

According to the manager of Blackburn Rovers, Owen Coyle believes that there are other clubs interested in signing Wes Brown which is a fairly surprising thing as the 36 year old player has consistently struggled with fitness during his career which has made it difficult for him to hold a place in the first team of different clubs but it seems like there still are a few teams that are willing to take a risk and sign him up despite these fitness issues and his elevated age.