Tony Mowbray wouldn’t be drawn into talk about expectations as Rovers prepare for their final pre-season friendly.

The Rovers boss pushed to raise hopes last season after their transfer dealings, only to fall well short of their top-six ambitions, ending the 2020/21 campaign in 15th place.

Since then Rovers have seen their numbers depleted by 11 outgoings, their squad supplemented in pre-season by the club’s young players who are set for more opportunities when they head to Bolton Wanderers this afternoon.

Six Academy graduates started, and impressed, against Leeds United, but Mowbray is hoping fresh faces arrive through the door before next weekend’s opener against Swansea City.

There is the hope of players returning from injury, with Sam Gallagher primed for some involvement at the University of Bolton Stadium, while Lewis Travis is expected to overcome a bout of illness to feature.

Asked if he would temper expectations this time around, Mowbray said: “I’m done with all that stuff, I was just trying to change the mentality of the group really, the group is 11 players down so let’s see what we can do and achieve.

“At this moment we haven’t got a senior team to put out and that’s why you saw a very young team.

“We had a sponsor picture before the game and because it was a betting company they needed players over 25 and we only had two.

“The expectation, let’s go and see how we get on.”

Tyrhys Dolan and Ben Brereton got 45 minutes each against Leeds United, their first outings of pre-season after injury and international commitments respectively.

Both will hope for more involvement today where Rovers could also welcome back Gallagher (calf) who is yet to feature in the close-season matches, and could be given the final half an hour.

Connor McBride’s deflected free-kick against Leeds was just the second goal of pre-season, both scored by the Scot, and Mowbray wants to see more attacking intent from his side, but conceded a more defensive approach against the Premier League side on Wednesday was required with the personnel available.

“Bradford, we didn’t create enough goalscoring opportunities,” he added.

“We had a level of control at times, but not enough for playing a League Two team.

“Those are things to work on and the team was ridiculously young, not a reflection of a young team.

“Having the likes of Dolan and Brereton back makes us more of a threat and hopefully when Gallagher is back, if Adam is still doing his stuff, then Armstrong, Gallagher and Brereton can be a real threat in this league.”

McBride will hope to muscle in on that trio, and after 12 goals for the Under-23s in his debut campaign last term, he’s enjoyed a good start to life with the first-team, netting the winner at AFC Fylde and the opener against Leeds.

“It was a special moment for me, my first time playing at Ewood, and I was delighted to get that goal in front of the fans,” the 20-year-old said.

“Last season I wasn’t even here for pre-season, I just went straight into the Under-23s and had a decent season.

“I’m feeling good, confident, fit and hopefully whenever I get my opportunities I can take them.

“This season I think it’s vital I get first-team minutes whether it’s here or whether I need to get out on loan, but hopefully it will be here.”