Tyrhys Dolan has had to adjust his ambitions after a breakthrough campaign.

Dolan ticked off his senior debut, league debut, first start and first goal within the first month of the season, and his emergence has since earned him a new deal.

The teenager was signed to boost Rovers’ attacking options within the Under-23s set-up, but an injury to Sam Gallagher in pre-season offered him the opportunity in the friendlies within Tony Mowbray’s squad.

He’s remained there ever since, being in every matchday squad this season, getting on the pitch in 30 of their 38 matches so far.

Only eight players have managed more appearances than the livewire teenager who has emerged as an option at centre forward within the last month.

After signing a new long-term deal at the club, through to 2025, Dolan says his mentality has changed since first signing for the club, when his aims were to try and break into the senior set-up.

“My situation has completely changed. I didn’t expect to be in the first-team so I’m always setting myself little targets,” Dolan said.

“Now I’ve been in and around the first-team and getting a number of games I want to keep getting starts, get a certain number of appearances before the end of the season, so if I keep performing and doing well I should definitely get those numbers.

“Before the Millwall game, my last start was against Middlesbrough on November 3, so it was a while out of the team and trying to come off the bench and make an impact.

“For me mainly it was mainly about keeping the right attitude, working hard in training, not letting my head drop, because once the manager saw that he would lose trust in you.

“I had to keep my standards right just like I was at the start of the season.”

The 19-year-old was brought in on a two-year deal in July after leaving Preston North End.

Having signed as a free agent following the end of his scholarship at Deepdale, and signed to be part of the Under-23s, his deal reflected that.

And that’s what made the contract he signed in February such a boost for Dolan.

“I didn’t sign a first-team contract so to get one after six or seven months was a proud moment for me and my family and to establish myself as a first-team player,” he explained.

“It just wants to make me kick on even more, you can’t get complacent and take your foot off the gas off, you need to try and keep thriving.

“To realise how far I’ve come, off the back of youth football, it’s been a dream come true and I couldn’t have imagined it.

“I’m just thankful for all the hard work I’ve put in and for the team and the manager for putting that trust and belief in me and playing me. It’s been really good.”

Dolan had gone four months without a start until being drafted in as Adam Armstrong’s replacement when the top scorer missed out at Millwall.

He’s since started three of the four games that have followed, including the draw at Norwich City before the break.

Mowbray feels Dolan has earned all the opportunities that have come his way because of the attitude and quality that he’s shown.

He said: “Tyrhys brings a lot to training every day and we want to keep encouraging him and giving him game time.

“I like the values he brings to training and the respect levels he has. He’s a fantastic example to all the young players, he’s a very level-headed young man, very grounded.”