The challenge to every Rovers player on the trip to Austria is to provide Jon Dahl Tomasson with the confidence that they can play a big part in the upcoming season.

Each of the 31 players on the trip will be hoping to use the week-long training camp, and the rest of the pre-season, to push their respective claims.

They will be different for each player, whether it be Dom Hyam to continue the consistency that saw him win the player of the year prize in 2022/23, or 16-year-old Max Davies hoping to become the next Academy prospect to make a senior debut.

Davies is one of nine players on the trip still waiting for their senior debut for the club, while a 10th in Jake Batty managed just a handful of minutes in a Carabao Cup outing last August.

Tomasson has shown great interest, but also faith, in Rovers’ young players, five of who were handed their debuts during his first season in charge.

He will cast his eye over them further in Austria, with the potential of them being involved in Saturday’s friendly double-header against TSV Hartberg.

Midfielders James Edmondson, Charlie Weston and Harley O’Grady-Macken, plus attacker Zak Gilsenan, all featured for the senior team in the opening pre-season friendly against Accrington Stanley last weekend having part of the training programme since the players returned on June 20.

And Tomasson said: “Every player has a good opportunity and it’s about doing the right things.

“I think our fans, you guys, me, we can see where players can function and where players maybe have difficulties, or need to mature.

“Every player has a good opportunity which is nice because as a player you need the opportunities.

“If you never get the opportunities you will never improve.

“That’s why we’re really happy with the Academy because they’re putting a lot effort in.”

Dilan Markanday had a loan spell to forget in the second half of last season, making just three substitute appearances, foiling Rovers’ plan to give him experience of regular football to come into this season on the back of.

The 21-year-old has had a difficult time of things snice arriving at the club in January 2021, but does possess the talent to be a success at Ewood Park.

Asked about him specifically, Tomasson said: “Every player has a chance.

“Players should give the manager confidence and you can give the manager confidence by doing the right thing. It’s not about the manager giving the players confidence.

“I want to be ambitious and gain things and it’s a performance culture."

With Tayo Edun’s time at the club coming to an end, Rovers have an opening at left back to provide competition to first-choice option Harry Pickering.

Teenager Batty, who turned 18 in May, played the second friendly at the Wham Stadium and grew into the game after a nervy start.

He has been touted as a standout prospect at the club in recent seasons and could push for more involvement moving forward.

Midfielder Weston was the only player to feature in both matches last weekend, replacing Sondre Tronstad for the final 15 minutes of game one before playing the second half of the second match.

Then he played alongside fellow Academy prospect Edmondson, and despite neither having yet nailed down a place as a regular for the Under-21s, the teenage pair have clearly caught the eye of Tomasson.

But there is work to do to ensure they stay around the squad, according to Under-21s boss Mike Sheron.

He said: “I watched the game at the weekend and quite a few lads got minutes.

“I still feel that one or two can do a bit more, don’t be happy just to be involved, try and make an impression.

“That’s how you develop careers and it’s good that they’re involved, one of two got debuts last year and hopefully there are a few more this year.”

Weston, who has previously captained England at Under-15s level, celebrates his 19th birthday today and is a player that Tomasson is keeping a close eye on.

That is despite him starting only seven of the 23 Premier League 2 fixtures last season.

But as Sheron said: “How opportunities come and how well you take them.

“Charlie creates a good impression when he goes and trains with the first-team and that’s the challenge for all of the lads to create that impact.

“That’s what football is about, making decisions and making people aware that you’re ready and up for the challenge and will thrive from it.”

Left-footer Edmondson, whose brother Stephen is also in the Rovers Academy, was name-checked by the head coach after the Stanley friendly having made a real impact in game two.

His performance helped Rovers gain control of the ball, and Tomasson said: “We saw some of the young players catch the eye. I think Edmondson did really well. This is the moment where you can answer a bit and have a chance of being part of something.”

Sheron agreed with Tomasson’s assessment, adding: “I thought he did, got on the ball, aware, played one and two touches which is exactly what they want the midfielders to do.

“Forward thinking, forward runs and you’ve got half a chance.”