Rovers start their 2020/21 Carabao Cup campaign against Doncaster tomorrow with Ben Brereton expected to feature in the starting line-up.

It was on this day two years ago, at half time of their league cup win over Lincoln City, that the signing of Brereton was announced.

Unveiled on to the pitch at half-time, Brereton’s move was initially a loan switch from Nottingham Forest with the obligation that Rovers would pay around £6m for his services in January.

The last two years haven’t played out as the attacker, Tony Mowbray, or anyone associated with Rovers would have envisaged, but still only 21, the manager maintains full faith in his big-money buy.

The positive is that Brereton’s confidence hasn’t been knocked despite scoring just twice in that time, and making only 11 Championship starts.

He still speaks with an enthusiasm and desire to succeed, and following the departures of Danny Graham and Dominic Samuel and the likelihood of no new strikers being added this summer, Rovers will certainly need him to deliver on the flashes of promise he’s shown.

Post-lockdown his manager believes he has grown physically, his body becoming more robust, and his running power could well see him become a key man this season, particularly in a 4-3-3 system.

So what of those two years?

“I’ve been here a couple of years now, haven’t played that much, but I think this season is going to be a good one for me and the team,” Brereton said.

“We’ve got a great bond, anything is possible and we’re looking forward to it.

“Everyone in there is my mate and I’m really enjoying it, I’m enjoying my time here and I feel like I’m doing well.”

His double at Bloomfield Road came three days after a missed penalty in the opening pre-season fixture with Fleetwood.

However, that didn’t seem to dent his confidence as he tucked away a header, and a composed finish when clean through, as Rovers won 3-1 on their second visit to the Fylde Coast.

After the departures of Graham and Samuel, should Brereton stay injury free, then chances in the side could well become more frequent.

“There’s opportunities there, DG and Dom were great for the team but they’ve moved on now,” he added.

“We have to do the best we can and play the position as well as we can and get the goals and assists.

“They were great for us, but it’s now it’s time for other people to step up and contribute.”

Brereton will certainly look to the development of close friend and strike partner Adam Armstrong, the 23-year-old having scored 17 time last season, almost doubling his tally from 2018/19.

A red card at Barnsley in June stunted Brereton’s progress after the re-start, just as he was looking to establish himself in the side. He admits that an experience he will learn from, but physically he feels prepared and ready for the upcoming campaign.

“I feel good. After lockdown I came back fit and strong, as did everyone, and we’ve come back as a team again, after some time which we earned, looking fit and ready to go again,” the former England youth international said.

“Everyone is fit and looking forward to the season.

“Minutes are important, getting minutes on the pitch, but if you can get goals and assists and help the team then that will only build your confidence going in to the season which isn’t far away now.

“I think for everyone, individuals and as a team, keep winning games in pre-season can give you that mentality that you can take in to the season.”

His late arrival in 2018 saw him miss Rovers’ pre-season of that summer, but did get on the scoresheet in three of the pre-season games in 2019, including at Blackpool.

However, a knee injury derailed the early part of his campaign, keeping him out for three months, and it wasn’t until the December win at Bristol City that he made his first league start.

“I got an injury last season and that was hard, but it happens to most players, you just have to get through it. Hopefully this season I can stay clear of injuries,” he said.

“We got away, we didn’t lose that much fitness, so coming back wasn’t as hard.

“It’s been alright, we had three weeks off, we can’t moan about that, pre-season is here now and we’re all enjoying it, working hard every day.”