Paul Hurst says he is looking forward to renewing his battle with Rovers on the opening day of the season.

Hurst spent the 2017/18 jostling for an automatic promotion spot in League One with Rovers when manager of Shrewsbury Town.

Although the Shrews missed out on promotion, losing in the play-off final to Rotherham United, Hurst got his Championship shot when named as the new Ipswich Town manager.

His first competitive game in charge will see them host Rovers at Portman Road on Saturday, August 4.

It will be a new era for the Tractor Boys after the departure of long-serving boss Mick McCarthy, but Hurst is looking forward to the upcoming challenge.

He said: “I was hoping for a home game to start my career off with Ipswich Town and that’s what we’ve got.

“I’m very familiar with Blackburn after to trying to challenge them last season with my old club for promotion to the Championship, so that's one that I’m really looking forward to.

“On a personal level we’ve got a lot of good games for myself. Blackburn, as we said, Rotherham, my former club, who I missed out on promotion (to) in the play-off final not so long ago.”