BLACKBURN Rovers U21s boss Eric Kinder has gone back to his former club Carlisle United to boost his ranks.

Rovers have taken over the scholarship contract of Connor Thomson, who can play right-back or right-midfield, after he impressed first-team manager Gary Bowyer in last week’s behind-closed-doors clash against Crewe Alexandra.

Kinder, who used to head-up Carlisle’s academy, said: “I’m delighted to have Connor with us and I hope we can help him rediscover what he had when I first brought him to Carlisle.

“He has obviously not been in the first-team plans at Carlisle and he asked me if I could help him out.

“We brought him here for three days, with Carlisle’s blessing, and he played in a behind-closed-doors game against Crewe.

“On the basis of his performance the manager offered to take over his contract, which Carlisle have agreed to.”

Thomson's scholarship agreement will run until June 2015.

Rovers were this week placed under a transfer embargo for failing Financial Fair Play.

But the rules of the embargo do not prevent them from offering scholarship terms to young players.​