Rovers were beaten 1-0 by Everton in a behind closed doors friendly at Finch Farm on Saturday. Here are the talking points from the game.

 

SENIOR INVOLVEMENT

Thomas Kaminski completed 90 minutes on his first outing of pre-season. The Belgian was back between the sticks for Rovers having sat out the AFC Fylde win, although Aynsley Pears was still absent from the squad once again, with Under-23s duo Antonis Stergiakis and Jordan Eastham both among the substitutes.

Darragh Lenihan, who played an hour, and Daniel Ayala the first half, lined up as Rovers’ central defensive pairing for their first friendly action, while striker Adam Armstrong also came through 45 minutes.

The team that started had a more familiar look to it than against Fylde, and arguably the side that started was the strongest one currently available to the manager.

That came as Rovers remain without several regulars, and possible starters.

Pears, Sam Gallagher and Tyrhys Dolan were all missing, alongside long-term injured trio Joe Rankin-Costello, Scott Wharton and Bradley Dack, while Bradley Johnson also sat the game out after picking up a hamstring injury against Fylde seven days earlier.

Ben Brereton is also still away after his international exploits with Chile, but is due to join in with the squad next week.

 

LIGHT IN MIDFIELD

One area of the pitch Rovers haven’t been short in during Mowbray’s time in charge is central midfield, but currently it’s a position of concern, and in need of strengthening in the transfer market.

With Johnson out injured, it leaves Lewis Travis, Joe Rothwell, Jacob Davenport and John Buckley fighting for the starting spots, the latter coming off after just half an hour at Finch Farm.

All four fit midfielders started at Everton, their replacements being Jalil Saadi, Tyler Magloire, Isaac Whitehall and Jack Vale, a sign of the lack of depth in that area of the pitch.

Head of recruitment John Park will be tasked with addressing that, with a need to add both depth and quality, following the departures of Lewis Holtby, Corry Evans, Stewart Downing and Tom Trybull.

 

BUTTERWORTH CHANCE

At least one player tends to push themselves into the manager’s thinking in pre-season, and this year it appears that Dan Butterworth has a good a chance as any.

He was the pick of the bunch at Fylde, and importantly, after all his injury woes, he came through an hour here.

Butterworth went close to scoring, flashing an effort wide from a Pickering cross early in the second half, while his versatility across the forward line adds a level of flexibility for the manager.

Mowbray is a long-term admirer, though injury has meant Butterworth has made just one substitute appearance in the last two seasons.

The man himself acknowledges he needs to make up for lost time, and chances may not be far away.

 

CATCHING THE EYE

Harry Pickering has settled in well to life at Ewood Park, and while immediately standing out as being the rare commodity of a new face in the squad, he has caught the eye.

A superb second half cross set up a chance for Butterworth and his delivery from the left flank will hopefully prove to be a productive source for Rovers this season.

So too is the hope that he will nail down the position as his own, something Rovers have struggled with since promotion back to the Championship.

Harry Chapman was the pick of the substitutes, linking up well with Pickering down the left-hand side.

 

A WELCOME TEST

A criticism of previous pre-season campaigns has been a lack of tests in the friendlies.

Rovers have addressed that this time out, with the Everton game and visit of Leeds United meaning they will face two Premier League opponents in pre-season, having not previously faced top-flight opposition since 2018.

Watched on by new boss Rafa Benitez, the Toffees went with a strong side, James Rodriguez, Moise Kean, Andre Gomes, Michael Keane and goalscorer Jean-Phillipe Gbamin among those to feature in the first half, while Seamus Coleman, Ben Godfrey, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan all involved in the second half.

Rovers are set to fit in another behind closed doors fixture against a League One opponent before finishing off pre-season with games against Bradford City (July 24), Leeds United (July 28) and Bolton Wanderers (July 31).