Harvey Elliott is targeting a pre-season impact at Liverpool that can force his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans – and feels the season-long loan at Rovers will stand him in good stead.

Elliott has clocked up five goals and 10 assists, but just as importantly, learned on the job as he’s featured in every game for Rovers since his October loan switch.

Things have been tougher for the teenage attacker in recent weeks, dropped to the bench at times during the winless run as Rovers’ play-off hopes were all but over by the middle of February.

His parent club, Liverpool, have had an equally tough 2021, leaving Elliot hopeful he can make a push for regular first-team involvement next season, having already had a taste of life around the senior side.

He told CBS Sports: "I'm going to go into pre-season thinking that I can get into this team. And whatever way my chance comes, it's just about making sure I take it. Obviously, nothing's going to come easy.

"If I'm needed off the bench make sure that I'm the person they look to. It is just making sure that I'm one of the go-to people to come on or to start and influence the game. That's my position and that's my role to score or create.

“I think if I'm doing that, and obviously working hard for the team as well, I think I've had a chance to be in and around it. I'm just going to do whatever it takes."

Elliott has had many plaudits, his goals and assists reaching fans around the world via social media and building an excitement around him that few players can generate.

But things haven’t always been plain sailing for Elliott who admits he’s learned plenty from his Ewood Park stint.

He hadn’t been set for a loan move, and some questioned whether it would come too early for a then 17-year-old with just a handful of senior appearance to his name.

Elliott described how the tempo of his debut at Watford caught him out, and made him quickly realise how he would have to adapt to life in the second tier.

And now the teenager, who has recently signed a boot deal with New Balance as well as turning 18, feels the defensive side of his game has come on.

"I will admit, there's been a couple of moments in games where I have switched off," he added 

"I think now, especially when I'm playing for Blackburn, and even for Liverpool as well, you realize how important the defensive side of work is. Single-handedly you can sort of mess up for the whole team, if you're not doing your job, someone else has to come out and cover for you, then they're leaving their man and it just dismantles the whole thing.

"You can't just run around the whole pitch for 90 minutes, you physically can't. It's just about being clever about when to press, or if they're showing one way, keep them that way."

An understanding with Adam Armstrong has proved key to Elliott’s success in a Rovers shirt, his weight of pass a stand-out part of his game.

His involvement has made him a standout man in the side, and he said of that responsibility: “It's going to help me for the future.

“To have the pressure now then hopefully, if I was to get to the top level and play week in, week out these are the sort of things that already know that I can do. That's the sort of attitude I go into every single training session with, every single game, just knowing that I can either score or create a goal.”