Rovers boosted their numbers for their return to training week by including their Under-23s squad in the testing programme.

The squad were all tested last week ahead of Monday’s return to Brockhall as they reported back for pre-season training after a three-and-a-half break since the final game of last season at Luton Town.

After the departure of Jayson Leutwiler, Sam Hart, Richie Smallwood, Dominic Samuel and Danny Graham at the end of their contracts, plus the returns of loanees of Christian Walton and Tosin Adarabioyo, Rovers were always going to be down on numbers.

Stewart Downing, who impressed in his 43 appearances last season, also wasn’t part of the extended group who returned to training under the watchful eye of Tony Mowbray and his coaching staff.

Downing, Graham and Leutwiler featured in every matchday squad last season, while Samuel was a regular in the side post-lockdown, leaving Rovers short of numbers on their return to training.

That saw the likes of Stefan Mols and Lewis Thompson continue training with the first-team squad, as they were after the restart, plus Brad Lyons and Ben Paton after they agreed contract extensions, and Louie Annesley.

The Under-18s who also signed professional terms were also included, Dan Pike, Jalil Saadi, Sam Burns and Luke Brennan among those getting a taste of life around the first-team, as did Tyrhys Dolan who joined form Preston on a two-year deal last month. Also back in the fold was Scott Wharton having returned from his impressive loan spell at League Two side Northampton Town.

The central defender played 43 times for the Cobblers, including in their successful play-off campaign, as he looks to force his way in to the first-team reckoning at Rovers.

Northampton are keen to re-sign him on loan for next season, but the 22-year-old, and Mowbray, are keen to see him break in to the first team picture at Ewood Park.

He is one of a number of central defensive prospects at the club including Hayden Carter, Tyler Magloire and Joe Grayson, who had injury troubles last season, as they all took part in the sessions.

Rovers will allow them chances in pre-season before making a decision on their futures, with loan interest likely to be high in their prospects.

They will be hoping for some match action when Rovers start their pre-season programme on Saturday with a trip to League One side Fleetwood Town (1pm).

That is one of four friendlies scheduled by the club, with further trips to Blackpool (August 25) and Bolton (August 29) before they step up their preparations with the visit of Everton on September 1.

Bradley Dack didn’t join in with the full group, as he continues his rehabilitation from a cruciate knee ligament injury, but is making good progress with the medical team.

A positive for Mowbray though was the returns to training of Derrick Williams, Amari’i Bell and Corry Evans.

Evans will hope his injury luck will change in the second half of 2020, first suffering severe facial injuries, which required surgery, in the January draw with Preston North End before making an impressive return against Bristol City post-lockdown.

A broken toe picked up late in that game ruled him out of the remaining eight games, but Rovers will hope to get him up to speed once again, before an expected Northern Ireland call-up next month.

Williams has had groin troubles for the past 12 months, and didn’t play any football post-lockdown, but was back training, as was Bell, who did make the matchday squad for the final fixture at Luton Town.

Mowbray will hope all three will be available for the trip to Highbury on Saturday, which comes just two weeks before Rovers are due to start their competitive action with a Carabao Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers at Ewood.

Seven days later they start their 2020/21 Championship campaign, the fixture list released on Friday.