CORRY Evans believes Blackburn Rovers have a better squad than they did last season – but that is not stopping his manager from trying to strengthen it.

Gary Bowyer yesterday revealed that a loan deal he had lined-up ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Hull City looks set to fall through.

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The Rovers boss is aiming to replace Modou Barrow after the winger was recalled by his parent club Swansea City.

Barrow was one of seven signings made by Bowyer in the summer and, despite the loss of Rudy Gestede and Tom Cairney, Evans reckons their arrivals have left the club with more strength in depth.

The in-form midfielder, who will be making his first return to the Tigers tomorrow, said: “I think the players who have come in have all added to the squad and I think we’ve got an overall better squad that we did last season.

“Okay we lost Rudy and Tom, who have been two of our better players over the last couple of seasons, but we’ve recruited well under the circumstances that we’ve had with the Financial Fair Play embargo.

“It takes time for them to gel, we’ve emphasised on playing a different way without Rudy, but it’s slowly starting to come to form, and the last couple of games are proof of that.”

Rovers will make the trip across the Pennines tomorrow on the back of a 2-2 draw at QPR and a 3-0 home victory over Charlton Athletic which ended their seven-game winless start to the league campaign.

Evans said: “It was frustrating at the start when the results weren’t going our way. We weren’t getting the drop of the ball or that bit of luck that we needed until Saturday.

“So overall it’s been frustrating, but we’re just pleased to get that first win now.”

Evans was described by Bowyer as being Rovers’ best player against QPR and Charlton.

And the Northern Ireland international credits his impressive performances as a result of getting fully match fit after a leg injury.

“I only played 60 minutes of a behind-closed-doors friendly in the summer,” said Evans.

“I had the base fitness from the running we did in Portugal but to get fully fit you need that match sharpness and match competitiveness.

“Slowly but surely I’ve been building back up and I feel like I’m getting back to the level I am used to.

“I’m enjoying my football and I’m enjoying the way we are playing as a team.”

Evans was a key member of the Hull side which won promotion from the Championship in 2012-13.

But, knowing his starts would be limited in the Premier League, the 25-year-old made the move to Rovers.

Evans said: “I had the chance to stay if I wanted to, or to go and play here at Blackburn.

“I felt at my age, I think I was 22 at the time, that playing regularly, week in, week out, would be better for my development rather than getting the odd game here or there, or cup games, and maybe in the end going out on loan.

“I thought it would be a better step for my career to go to Blackburn. I left with no regrets or hard feelings and I look forward to going back with happy memories.”

Evans is unlikely to be joined in the Rovers squad tomorrow by the new loan addition – an attacker – Bowyer was hopeful of signing.

“We thought we had one but it’s not materialised and I think it has fallen flat on its face, which is disappointing,” said Bowyer, who remained tight-lipped on the player’s identity.

“But it’s not from our end. It’s from the other club who have said, ‘look it’s not going to happen’.

“We’ll give it another 24 hours and if there’s no change in that, we’ll look to move on.”