Academy graduates and international stars: West Brom and Blackburn 'played for both' XI

Ahead of West Brom’s clash with Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns tomorrow, the Express & Star has named a starting 11 made up of some of the best players to have represented both clubs.

From Premier League regulars and promotion winners to academy graduates and club legends, here is the best ‘Played For Both XI’ for Albion and Blackburn.

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Goalkeeper: Alan Miller

West Brom: 1997–2000 (108 appearances), Blackburn: 2000–2003 (1 appearance)

Starting between the sticks is the late Alan Miller, who became a popular figure at The Hawthorns during his three years with the Baggies.

The former Arsenal goalkeeper initially arrived at Albion on loan from Middlesbrough in 1997 before making the move permanent, and established himself as the club's first-choice goalkeeper.

His performances earned him a move to Blackburn in February 2000, although injuries and competition for places restricted his opportunities at Ewood Park.

Defender: Steven Reid

West Brom: 2010–2014 (88 appearances), Blackburn: 2003–2010 (113 appearances)

A dependable figure in Albion's defence during their Premier League years, Steven Reid enjoyed successful spells at both clubs after initially making his name at Millwall.

The Republic of Ireland international spent seven years at Blackburn, where he established himself as a versatile Premier League performer, featuring in both midfield and defence.

He joined Albion on loan towards the end of their promotion-winning 2009/10 campaign before making the move permanent that summer, becoming a reliable option at right-back under Roberto Di Matteo, Roy Hodgson and Steve Clarke.

Defender: Tosin Adarabioyo

West Brom: 2018–2019 (36 appearances), Blackburn: 2019–2020 (35 appearances)

One of the younger names on this list, Tosin Adarabioyo enjoyed consecutive Championship loan spells at Albion and Blackburn while making his way through the ranks at Manchester City.

The towering centre-back arrived at The Hawthorns in 2018 and made 36 appearances in all competitions as Albion reached the Championship play-offs under Darren Moore and James Shan.

He spent the following season at Blackburn, where he became a regular in Tony Mowbray's defence and continued his development. His performances eventually helped him earn a permanent move to Fulham in 2020, where he established himself as a Premier League defender.

Defender: Tony Dobson

West Brom: 1997–1998 (11 appearances), Blackburn: 1991–1993 (41 appearances)

A defender who had relatively short spells at both clubs, Tony Dobson was part of the Blackburn squad during the early years of Jack Walker's ambitious takeover.

He joined Rovers from Coventry City in 1991 and made 41 league appearances during his two years at Ewood Park, a period that saw Kenny Dalglish guide the club into the Premier League.

After leaving Blackburn for Portsmouth in 1993, Dobson eventually arrived at The Hawthorns four years later, where he struggled to establish himself and made just 11 league appearances before moving on.

Defender: Nicky Reid

West Brom: 1992–1994 (20 appearances), Blackburn: 1987–1992 (174 appearances)

A tough-tackling defender who spent much of his career in the north west, Nicky Reid joined Albion in 1992 after five years at Blackburn Rovers.

The former Manchester City man had been a regular at Ewood Park during a period of considerable change, helping Rovers establish themselves as promotion contenders before their eventual rise to the Premier League under Dalglish.

He swapped Lancashire for the Black Country in November 1992 and was part of the Albion squad that secured promotion from the third tier under Ossie Ardiles in 1993, before leaving for Wycombe Wanderers the following year.

Midfielder: Taylor Gardner-Hickman

West Brom: 2021–2023 (60 appearances), Blackburn: 2025–2026 (31 appearances)

One of the more recent names in this side, Taylor Gardner-Hickman came through Albion's academy before establishing himself as a versatile first-team option at The Hawthorns.

The midfielder made his senior debut under Valerien Ismael in 2021 and went on to make 60 appearances for his boyhood club, featuring in a number of positions before leaving for Bristol City in 2023.

After helping Birmingham City win the League One title in 2024/25, Gardner-Hickman joined Blackburn on loan in September 2025, a move which reunited with Ismael four years after his Albion debut.

Midfielder: Keith Andrews

West Brom: 2012 (14 appearances), Blackburn: 2008–2012 (70 appearances)

Republic of Ireland international Keith Andrews enjoyed a remarkable rise through the football pyramid before eventually representing both clubs in the Premier League.

He joined Blackburn from League One side MK Dons in 2008, following manager Paul Ince to Ewood Park, and quickly established himself in Rovers' midfield despite the significant jump in divisions.

After falling out of favour at Blackburn, Andrews joined Albion on loan in January 2012 and made an immediate impact under Roy Hodgson. He scored twice in 14 Premier League appearances, including a goal in the memorable 5-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux, before departing at the end of the season.

Midfielder: Rekeem Harper

West Brom: 2017–2021 (42 appearances), Blackburn: 2017–2018 (9 appearances)

Another product of Albion's academy, Rekeem Harper was once regarded as one of the most promising young midfielders to emerge from The Hawthorns.

He made his senior debut for the Baggies as a 17-year-old in 2017 before being sent on loan to Blackburn, where he gained valuable first-team experience as Rovers secured promotion from League One under Tony Mowbray.

Harper returned to Albion and enjoyed his most productive spell under Darren Moore during the 2018/19 Championship campaign, but struggled to nail down a regular starting place in subsequent seasons and eventually left the club for Ipswich Town in 2021.

Forward: Adam Armstrong

West Brom: 2025 (16 appearances), Blackburn: 2018–2021 (160 appearances)

A prolific Championship goalscorer, Adam Armstrong enjoyed the best spell of his career at Blackburn before eventually making a short-lived move to The Hawthorns.

The former Newcastle youngster initially joined Rovers on loan in 2018, helping them win promotion from League One, before making the move permanent that summer and going on to score 64 goals in 160 Championship appearances, including an impressive 28 during the 2020/21 campaign.

He joined Albion on loan from Southampton in February 2025, scoring three times in 16 appearances. Baggies supporters will also remember him for scoring twice against them in Southampton's 3-1 Championship play-off semi-final victory in May 2024, which ended Albion's hopes of reaching Wembley.

Forward: Jason Roberts

West Brom: 2000–2004 (89 appearances), Blackburn: 2006–2012 (134 appearances)

A powerful striker who enjoyed lengthy spells in the Premier League, Jason Roberts was a key member of the Albion side that won promotion to the top flight for the first time in 2002.

He joined the Baggies from Bristol Rovers in a reported £2m deal in 2000 and struck up an effective partnership with Bob Taylor, scoring seven league goals during the 2001/02 promotion campaign under Gary Megson.

Roberts left Albion for Wigan Athletic in 2004, before joining Blackburn two years later in a reported £3m deal. He spent almost six seasons at Ewood Park, scoring 24 Premier League goals and establishing himself as a regular in the Rovers attack before leaving for Reading in 2012.

Forward: Simon Garner

West Brom: 1992–1994 (33 appearances), Blackburn: 1978–1992 (484 appearances)

Arguably the biggest legend in this starting 11, Simon Garner remains Blackburn Rovers' all-time leading goalscorer after spending 14 years at Ewood Park.

He joined Rovers as a youngster in 1978 and went on to score 168 goals in 484 league appearances, becoming a firm favourite with supporters as the club climbed through the divisions towards the Premier League.

Garner left Blackburn for Albion in 1992, joining Ossie Ardiles' side for a reported £30,000 fee.

Despite being in the latter stages of his career, the experienced striker chipped in with eight league goals as the Baggies secured promotion through the Division Two play-offs in 1993, before leaving for Wycombe Wanderers the following year.