Jacob Davenport will be playing Championship football again next season after his breakthrough campaign at Burton Albion.

The 19-year-old has signed a four-year deal at recently-promoted Blackburn Rovers, joining the Ewood Park club from Manchester City.

It is a deserved move back to the second tier for Davenport, who showed no signs of being overawed by his first spell in senior football with the Brewers as they battled against relegation.

In his first interview after signing for Rovers, the City academy product spoke glowingly of the club, and his ambition and desire to compete in the Championship also told.

Jacob Davenport plays a ball forward while under pressure from Sheffield United's Billy Sharp

"I went out on loan last year to Burton Albion, but this is my first move away and I can’t wait to get started in the Championship again," he said.

"I think that's helped me a lot, that taste of first-team Championship football.

"Knowing I can handle this league has helped me massively."

Once a player has had such an experience, they understandably want more of it.

Davenport proved his wealth of abilities against some of the second tier's biggest sides.

Just remember his composed debut against Aston Villa, when he pulled the strings at the base of the Burton midfield, seemingly with more time and space than any of the other 21 players on the pitch.

That is something he will want to keep doing with Blackburn, to push his game on.

When Albion's relegation back to League One was confirmed on that agonising final day at Preston North End, it immediately dealt a blow to any hopes of getting Davenport back at the club.

Burton were interested in doing another deal for the central midfielder, if possible, to boost their midfield ranks for 2018-19.

Nigel Clough at Deepdale
Nigel Clough at Deepdale

But Nigel Clough had previously acknowledged that Davenport was likely to have drawn the attentions of Championship clubs.

So it has proven with Blackburn, who were linked with the 19-year-old back in May.

The chance for Davenport to challenge himself against Stoke City, Derby County, Middlesbrough et al will understandably have played a big part in the youngster's decision.

It is a great league to prove yourself in.

Albion have spoken to City about the possibility of getting another of their up-and-coming cohort on loan next season.

If they do so, they are likely to be giving first senior opportunities to that player, as they did with Davenport.

That is the market the Brewers are in now in League One, with a smaller budget than the one they had to use in the Championship and slightly less pulling power than what comes in the second tier.

On the theme of midfielders, Clough confirmed that Luke Murphy would not be returning for a third spell at the Pirelli Stadium within a few days of Burton's relegation.

"Finances will prohibit that, unfortunately" is what Clough said when asked if Murphy could be back in League One, having been a staple in the middle of the park for Albion in 2016-17.

Central midfield is a position the Brewers are working hard to strengthen, and they are getting closer to doing so.

But Davenport's switch to Blackburn served as a timely reminder of the market Albion are competing in - and what they are competing with.