Facing a star-studded Manchester United line-up during the international break was a ‘positive adventure’ in the eyes of manager Tony Mowbray.

Last week’s behind closed doors friendly offered the chance to Rovers to get minutes to several players returning from injury, such as Bradley Johnson and Joe Rankin-Costello, while Scott Wharton got a first run-out in 10 months and Jan Paul van Hecke pulled on Rovers colours for the first-time.

For the hosts, Marcus Rashford scored twice in a 3-0 win as he recovers from a shoulder problem that has sidelined him since Euro 2020, with Mason Greenwood also on target.

While the United side featured several experienced Premier League operators, Rovers had a number of young players involved, including 16-year-old defender Ash Phillips and 18-year-old midfielder Jake Garrett.

“It was a really positive adventure for us,” Mowbray said.

“Rashford and Greenwood both scored, Matic, Mata, van de Beek, Wan Bissaka, Jones, Lindelof, all played, it was a first-team basically that we played, a team full of internationals who weren’t away on international duty.

“It was a fantastic experience for the likes of young Ash Phillips and Jake Garrett and for van Hecke, Wharton and Rankin-Costello who got minutes so it was a good game for us, a good experience for the young players, and I don’t think there were any negatives coming out of it.”