Jon Dahl Tomasson has given clues to his line-up for the Carabao Cup tie with Hartlepool United by confirming three players who will start the game.

Central defender Ash Phillips, just 45 days after his 17th birthday, will play against the League Two side, as will Liverpool loanee Tyler Morton and Bradley Dack.

Phillips has emerged as one of the club’s brightest talents but is still early into his development having not played for the Under-18s until last January.

He has made great strides since however, training with the first-team for the last year, and was an unused substitute against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup in January and then in Saturday’s Championship win.

"He is a big boy, massive, has speed, athletic, strong, he has been growing a lot so he needs to find (grow into) his body,” Tomasson said.

“He is a young boy who needs to improve still but has a lot of talent and potential so he deserves a chance.”

Phillips is set to come in for Daniel Ayala as Rovers rest the experienced defender for the Carabao Cup tie.

But Tomasson was eager not to place too much pressure on the shoulders of Phillips when asked about a potential impact at first-team level this season.

"I never want to put pressure, he needs to perform like everyone else when you get a chance,” he explained.

“We should not put pressure on a 17-year-old boy, he should enjoy it and do the right things which we have spoken about it and I think he’s doing that.

“He takes feedback very well, he wants to learn. If you want to develop players it’s extremely important players want to learn and become better.

“He’s demanding a lot from himself, I like that, because you have a clear mind on what you want.

"He did extremely well against Lincoln, 45 minutes, which was a tough game, but pre-season is always different.

“It’s a nice opportunity for the boy.”

Midfielder Morton signed on a season-long loan deal last week and already has nine first-team appearances to his name for Liverpool.

He played the closing stages of the Swansea City win as a substitute, but will get his chance from the off tomorrow night.

“Morton hasn't played many minutes yet,” the Rovers head coach said.

"He got four or five minutes against Swansea.

“The previous weekend he played 90 minutes against Strasbourg, and then he played a couple more times.

“He will get his opportunity now.”

Dack has so far been an unused substitute in Rovers’ opening two Championship fixtures having managed only 60 minutes in pre-season.

He did score in that game against Lincoln City however, and has since played in two behind-closed-doors matches.

His next opportunity to get minutes into his legs, as well as catch the eye of Tomasson, will come in tomorrow night’s game.

But the head coach has stressed that it is about every player who starts taking their chance.

He added: “Bradley hasn't been involved in playing minutes on the pitch so far but started on the bench.

"He will get an opportunity to play a good game.

“I always feel sorry for good players when they get injured, he had two years away with his cruciate ligament, it’s not nice. The same for Sam (Barnes) the other day.

"When you hear stories like that you get sad because football is about passion, scoring goals and playing games.

“It is a good opportunity and like the 10 other players he needs to perform because it’s a good opportunity.

“It's always about the team.”

Rovers have handed a squad number to central defender Louie Annesley who looks set to be on the bench against Hartlepool.

A matchday squad of 20 is able to named in the competition, but still only five alterations can be made.

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