Blackburn Rovers transfer looks better than Sunderland for Chelsea ace in hindsight: View | OneFootball

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The former Charlton Athletic ace Mason Burstow left for Chelsea in 2022 and appears to have fallen down the pecking order while on loan at Sunderland.

Premier League side Chelsea loaned out starlet Burstow to Sunderland, who currently occupy a play-off spot, during the summer transfer window.

Before the former Charlton striker joined Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers were also reportedly interested in securing his signature.

Burstow may have started seven matches this season, with two further appearances from the bench but Ukrainian striker Nazariy Rusyn appears to have superseded the former Charlton man as the Mackems' main starter of late.

The former Zorya man has started in each of the last three Championship games for the Black Cats, leaving Burstow on the bench.

Rusyn is not the only forward Burstow has to compete with due to the presence of Portuguese youngster Luis Semedo who has made 12 appearances in the second tier so far this season while there is also competition from Eliezer Mayenda, who has just returned from an injury and made his debut for Mowbray's side in Saturday's win over Birmingham.

Rovers meanwhile would love to have a striker of the Chelsea man's quality especially during Sam Gallagher's absence through injury.

A move to Blackburn would have made more sense for Burstow

Although Rovers have the Championship's top goalscorer Sammie Szmodics within their ranks, the Irishman is not a striker by trade and has been carrying a lot of the goalscoring weight on his shoulder.

Jon Dahl Tomasson's side could really do with some goalscoring output upfront and this is something Burstow could have provided for the Lancashire outfit.

In just 23 senior appearances, Burstow scored six goals for Charlton Athletic which was enough to convince Chelsea to snap up the youngster.

Howeve,r Burstow made just three senior appearances for the Blues, leading to Pochettino opting to send the ace out on loan until the end of the season.

So far in his spell at the Black Cats, Burstow has failed to find the back of the net, but if he was the main man leading the line, this could be different.

Jon Dahl Tomasson's side have been crying out for a striker with the Chelsea forward attributes, ever since Sam Gallagher suffered a knock back in September.

Since Gallagher's absence, Tyrhys Dolan has led the line more often than not for Rovers and has bagged two goals and two assists in the Championship.

Dolan lacks the physical profile as a striker which is an asset Burstow would have been able to provide had Rovers signed him up.

The Black Cats meanwhile have other forwards at their disposal.

Tony Mowbray will hope that Rusyn's assist in Saturday's 3-1 win over Birmingham City will kickstart a run of goal-producing form.

Ironically, somewhat like Rovers, the Black Cats have been reliant on goals from Jack Clarke who is not an out-and-out striker.

However the presence of Rusyn and the other forwards at the club, it means that the Mackems do not necessarily need Burstow.

At Rovers though, Burstow would likely be given the nod upfront and could have helped take some of the goalscoring duties away from midfielder Sammie Szmodics.

Despite Szmodics being the division's top scorer, the main problem encountered by Jon Dahl Tomasson's team is that they don't find the back of the net frequently enough.

Rovers have found the back of the net on just 24 occasions this season and are striving to reach the top six.

The only side in the top six who have scored fewer goals than Blackburn are fellow Lancashire side Preston.

Rovers need more goals to aid the play-off assault they wish to seriously challenge and Burstow could have been the man to provide that, had the transfer window in the summer gone slightly differently.