IAN HOLLOWAY today rewarded youth team striker Louis Almond with a professional contract, the deal will see the Blackburn born youngster remain at Bloomfield Road until at least June 2011 and the club will have an option to extend the player's contract for a further 12 months.

Speaking to the official website "Ollie" said: "Louis has done exceptionally well this season and we are delighted to be able to reward him with a professional contract, he is a big strong boy who knows where the goal is and with Ash Eastham, Mark Halstead and Stephen Husband we have some real quality coming through and I am really looking forward to helping their development."