RICHIE Smallwood is confident that Blackburn Rovers can bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt – and see him claim a second promotion on his CV.

Smallwood joined Rovers on Tuesday on an initial two-year deal after turning down a new contract at Rotherham United where he achieved promotion from League One in 2013/14.

It was during Smallwood’s first season with the Millers that he helped them in to the second tier via the play-offs, scoring in the penalty shoot-out victory over Leyton Orient at Wembley.

Smallwood is yet to meet his new team-mates, with pre-season not starting at Rovers until Wednesday. But the 26-year-old has studied the club’s players, and facilities, and believes everything is geared up to getting back in to the Championship at the first attempt.

“I’m very confident,” he said of Rovers’ chances. “When I’ve looked at the squad and looked at the retained list, and I’m sure they’re going to bring more players in, so it should be a good healthy squad, good competition for places.

“It’s a good environment, the facilities are absolutely brilliant, so I think it will be good.

“I think there’s a very good chance, if everyone puts in 100 per cent and has the right attitude, I’m sure it will be a good season for all.”

Rovers will be playing in the third tier for the first time in 37 years following relegation last term.

It will be just over five weeks until the start of the new season when the players return to Brockhall for pre-season training next week.

Their first friendly is a trip to Barrow on Saturday, July 8, before they head off to Austria for a pre-season training camp which includes a game against Czech side Sparta Prague.

Head coach Tony Mowbray – who Smallwood worked with between 2010 and 2013 at Middlesbrough – is hoping to get the bulk of his squad together ahead of that European trip.

Smallwood became Mowbray’s second summer signing, after Peter Whittingham, but Rovers will need to increase their numbers after losing 11 players since the end of the Championship campaign.

But the ex-Millers central midfielder admits he’s looking forward to getting going after signing an initial two-year deal, with the option of a third, after agreeing to become Rovers’ second summer signing.

He added: “I can’t wait. That’s the exciting bit. I’ll be chomping at the bit to get going.

“I like to work hard and stay fit anyway, so hopefully I’ll come back in good shape, ready to go and get stuck into the pre-season games, get some minutes under my belt and hopefully get a flying start to the season.”