Teenage goalkeeper Joshua Rea is training with Blackburn Rovers, according to the Lancashire Telegraph, as the 18-year-old looks to find a new home for himself following his release by Leeds.
The former Hamilton Athletic and Celtic youth star joined the Whites in the summer of 2017 as a free agent following his release by the Hoops, but was unable to earn a new contract in West Yorkshire over his two years with United.
Rea proved to be something special when he made his Whites Under 23s debut in the Premier League Cup shoot-out against Fulham in March, when he came on as a substitute following Harrison Male’s sending off. But the heavy competition he faced for honours between the sticks in our U23s made a full progression to Carlos Corberan’s ranks unlikely, especially with Will Huffer and Kamil Miazek heading the pecking order going into the new campaign.
Thus the club made the decision to allow the Croy, Scotland-born goalkeeper to move on in the summer, and he wasted no time in securing a trial with Rovers, as he shared photos of himself in training with the Ewood Park natives on his Instagram account in late June.
The Lancashire Telegraph have now noted that Rea is working with Rovers’ Under 23s in a bid to earn a contract with our Championship rivals, and a route into Tony Mowbray’s first-team may be on offer should he impress Professional Development Phase Lead Coach Damien Johnson.
Mowbray is currently on the lookout for further additions between the sticks with David Raya a target for Brentford, and will priorities a new shot-stopper should the 23-year-old depart for Griffin Park.
He may also be without third-choice Andrew Fisher by the time the Championship campaign commences, as he could be loaned out following a spell in the National League North with FC United of Manchester.