Tony Mowbray knows what a tough test Doncaster Rovers will pose in the Carabao Cup having studied a number of their players, including this summer.

The two clubs were paired together in the first round of the competition which will kick off their respective 2020/21 campaigns.

Rovers will go in as favourites against the League One side, with home advantage as well, but Mowbray isn’t underestimating the quality within Darren Moore’s ranks.

Doncaster captain Ben Whiteman is one player to have continually be linked with Rovers, but with three years left on his contract at the Keepmoat Stadium, they are determined to keep hold of him.

“I like Doncaster, I've watched them a fair bit, including over this summer, analysing one or two of their players,” Mowbray told the club website.

“They have good players and it won't be an easy game, that's for sure.

“There are no easy games in football, even if you'd hope that we can beat Doncaster Rovers at home. We know all too well from the last meeting with them at Ewood Park that it's not that straightforward.”

Around a dozen second-tier teams are said to have expressed an interest in central midfielder Whiteman who has made 106 appearances since his loan move from Sheffield United was made permanent in January 2018.

“We’ve had calls but all of them have been turned down,” chief executive Gavin Baldwin told the Doncaster Free Press of captain Whiteman last week.

Under former West Brom boss Moore, Mowbray expects a tough tie, but Rovers have a decent record in the competition having made it beyond the first round in each of his three seasons in charge, only to be knocked out by Premier League opposition.

They enter in rounds two and three, with the first round having been split in to northern and southern sections, but unseeded.

“They'll come with a game-plan, they have good individuals and we'll have to take out chances against them," Mowbray added.

“It's a tricky game, as they all are, but it's preparation for this season and we'll give it our best shot at doing well in the Carabao Cup, whilst also seeing is as an opportunity to potentially blood some young players, just as we did towards the end of last season.”