George Hirst can use the World Cup break as a ‘reset button’ as Jon Dahl Tomasson watched the striker score twice in Rovers’ win over Hearts in Marbella.

Hirst scored twice in the first half as Rovers scored four unanswered goals against the Scottish Premiership side in the friendly played at the Marbella Football Center.

It has been a difficult start since his loan move from Leicester City for the 23-year-old who has managed only two league starts and 262 minutes of action in nine appearances and featured three times for the Under-21s.

He is yet to score in competitive action, having seen a late penalty saved in the October defeat at Cardiff City, but showed his credentials with a fine volley and finishing a one-on-one opportunity in the Hearts friendly.

Sam Szmodics and Bradley Dack were also on target in the win, with Tomasson pleased with the workout, and believes the break from action will have done his squad good.

“When you have a squad there are of course players who play more than others,” Tomasson said.

“George hasn’t played as much but he’s been working hard, stayed with a great attitude, like a lot of those boys who haven’t played as much.

“This is a little bit of a reset button for some of the lads.

“They need to show quality and to grab the chance in a way.

“Now is the chance to get minutes and catch my eye.”

Dack set up the opener for Szmodics and Hirst’s second before getting on the scoresheet himself.

He hasn’t started a league game for Rovers since September 3 and has had an equalising frustrating time this season.

Yet Tomasson added: “It was brilliant for Dack, another player who hasn’t played much, so a chance for him to get going.

“I took Sammie and Dacky out because they were more or less dead.”

Rovers return to action against Preston North End on Saturday, a month after their previous Championship fixture.

And that’s why Tomasson prioritised game-time for his players as the key take-away from the first of two friendlies, with Rovers due to face Ajax on Saturday at the Marbella Football Center.

“First of all, the main thing is minutes,” Tomasson added.

“There were some great football moments, great goals and of course a typical practice match.

“I think the weather, the boys are not used to it, so there was the heat, but it was good to 90 minutes into a lot of the players’ legs, perfect actually, and really happy with that.

“It’s about not getting injured, especially with our squad.

“Against Ajax it will also be another mix of players, and getting through those 90 minutes and hopefully playing some good football, winning challenges, duels, that’s what we want.”

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