John Buckley’s quest to ditch the ‘young lad from the Academy’ tag and become a mainstay in the side is in full swing – but started back in pre-season.

With 10 starts out of 11 Championship games, Buckley is enjoying his best ever run in the side and is close to matching the 12 he made in the previous two seasons combined.

Having turned 22 this week, Buckley sensed his time was now, not least with a host of midfielders having left the club in the summer, freeing up an opportunity to force his way into the reckoning.

Manager Tony Mowbray has talked up Buckley’s ability for some time, and while he was always in and around the squad, making the matchday 20 on all but one occasion last season, starts were hard to come by.

The Academy graduate continued to stress that closing the gap between starts and substitute appearances was a key aim, the gap now 22 to 39 in favour of outings off the bench.

That has been helped by a strong start to the season, impressing on the ball with his willingness to carry the ball forward, but out of possession too in leading the press and winning interceptions high up the field.

And having stressed that he will only continue to get better the more he plays, Buckley is hoping to have addressed the narrative surrounding him.

He said: “I think the gaffer sees that as well, he sees me not as a senior player, but hopefully as one of the mainstays in the team. He’s trusting in me more than last season which is massive for me, because he always talks about trust and trying to get us to improve.

“There were times last year (when I was frustrated) because I was playing 15 or 20 minutes, then go a few games without, but then start one and I wasn’t really up to match speed.

“I’ve always said that I’ll get better with games and this season I think I’ve shown that.

“There’s nothing better than playing confidence, I know that’s cliché, but playing with confidence you feel good about yourself and perform better.”

Rovers allowed Corry Evans, Lewis Holtby and Stewart Downing to leave at the end of their contracts, while the loan stays of Harvey Elliott and Tom Trybull came to an end, meaning there was a large outgoing of players from a part of the pitch which had previously been so competitive.

Buckley, along with Lewis Travis and Joe Rothwell, appear to have the three midfield spots nailed down for now, but having been on the fringes so often last season, he wants to ensure that’s something which will continue.

“We lost quite a few (players) from last year and I just thought to myself that I had to take my chance,” he explained.

“I was coming up to 22, I didn’t put pressure on myself, but I knew I needed to have a good pre-season and have a good start.

“I’m pleased with how I’ve started, I’ve played every game bar one, and hopefully I can continue that.

“Overall I think I’ve played well, when I go through my clips with Damien he’s saying that if I can’t score or assist, then assist the assist, which I’ve done quite a few times.

“So as long as I’m creating and doing my bit off the ball then it’ll make the gaffer’s decision harder to leave me out.”

Buckley always felt a big pre-season awaited him on his return in June, which is why he took the decision to have a shortened break and instead work on his physicality.

That was a previous part of his game which some worried would hold him back, but Buckley has shown an ability to mix it off the ball to combine with his silky skills when it’s at his feet.

“I knew it was a big chance, I didn’t have much time off in pre-season, I was trying different things out to help my body. I was travelling to Crewe most days to work with someone to help my body, just so that when I came back I could feel ready,” he explained.

“I went away for a week, chilled for a week, and then was back at it.

“There’s some days when you’re a bit sore or tired, but when the games come the adrenaline and the fans help with that, I think that’s why it was tough last year, playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday without fans to get that matchday feeling.

“I feel good at the moment, especially before the internationals, the run of games before then I felt good fitness wise.”

Although Mowbray talked of a disrupted international break with players away with their countries, or struggling with illness or injury, Buckley feels time to dissect the defeat at Blackpool before the break will stand them in good stead heading into today’s game.

He added: “We’ve had a good couple of weeks to reflect on the Blackpool game, the standard in training has been really good and hopefully we can take that into Coventry.”