Corry Evans believes summer signings will help ‘raise the standards’ when Rovers return for pre-season.

Boss Tony Mowbray wants to see Rovers improve on their 15th place finish next season and is keen to add ready-made first team players to his squad this summer.

That will put pressure on the places of those who featured heavily during 2018/19, including Evans who featured in 35 league matches this term.

The 28-year-old believes Mowbray deserves great credit for the turnaround at the club, and feels Rovers have reason to be optimistic after stabilising in their first season back at this level.

“It’s always good when new signings come in as it raises the standards in training and adds competition for places, which is what the manager wants,” said the Northern Ireland international.

“He got us back up at the first time of asking, which is difficult to do from League One. He got us back on side with the fans and everyone around the club.

“Things have changed drastically. We’re a club moving forward now rather than looking below us.

“There was a lot of change after we were relegated and a lot of credit has to go to the manager.”

Evans completed his sixth season as a Rovers player and is the longest-serving member of the squad.

Rovers will be keen to lean on his experience moving forward with Mowbray having built a young squad in his four transfer windows in charge.

He could look to focus more on experience in the summer, but Evans still feels fit and strong and ready to play his part moving forward.

He added: “I still feel young. It’s good to see the young lads coming through amongst the good players we have at this club, and I’m sure playing Championship football this season will benefit them hugely.”

A point on the final day moved Rovers to 60 from their 46 league games. That was boosted by four wins and a draw from their final six fixtures having come unstuck following their four consecutive wins to kick off 2019.

And midfielder Evans added: “We know as a group of lads that our poor run in February and March wasn’t good enough.

“It was frustrating because we couldn’t put our finger on why it wasn’t working for us.

“We stuck together though and worked hard and fortunately got the results back. I think it’s six years now that I’ve been here and it’s been good to be back in the Championship again this season.

“Unfortunately we didn’t get to where we wanted to be but it’s good to stabilise ourselves back in the division.”