With more than 100 senior appearances to his name, it can be easy to forget that Tyrhys Dolan is only 21.

The wideman joined Rovers’ ranks in the summer of 2020 following spells at Manchester City and Preston North End.

He went on to make 40 first-team appearances during his first season at Ewood Park and has been regularly involved in the side ever since.

Dolan had a tough start to the campaign and admits it can be difficult to stay focused on the bigger picture at times.

“Sometimes I forget it myself,” he said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself and don’t really give myself enough credit sometimes.

“But this game is not based on sympathy, you have got to perform. People will sometimes forget about your age and if you are good enough, you will play.

“I back myself and know I am better than what I have shown at the start of the season. I am just happy now that I am in a better position.”

Dolan scored his first goal of the season during the emphatic 4-0 victory at Queens Park Rangers earlier this month. He has also provided a couple of assists in the league.

When asked if confidence has a big impact on his game, the youngster replied: “I think everyone is probably like that, it is all about confidence.

“You don’t become a bad player overnight, and that is something people have said to me.

“You have got to believe in yourself and it is nice to have support around you. It helps if people are singing your praises rather than saying the stuff you are bad at.

“I am a confidence player really. I play my best when I am happy and confident, but I think a lot of people are like that.”

Dolan is eager to build momentum heading into the winter months as Rovers aim to climb the Championship table. The side had won three games on the spin prior to Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against Swansea.

He said: “You want to be as consistent as you can in football and I think it dropped off after the Stoke game (last season).

“I had a bit of a tough day there and came out of the team. It stops you in your tracks a bit and you want to keep going as far as you can when you are in a good streak.

“It just shows consistency is the main thing in football and that is what I am trying to do now – hopefully turn the last handful of games into the rest of the season and build on the positives.”

The wideman found the net six times in all competitions last term and is keen to provide more of a goal threat in the coming weeks and months.

Sam Szmodics is Rovers’ current top scorer this season, averaging almost a goal every other game. Arnor Sigurdsson has also made a prolific start to life at Ewood Park since his return from injury.

While Dolan has targets he wants to meet on an individual level, his main priority is helping Rovers pick up as many points as possible as they aim to build on last term’s seventh-place finish – the club’s highest in a decade since dropping out of the top flight.

“I definitely have goals for myself, I want to be in double figures with my goals as a forward player,” the youngster explained.

“I haven’t got a specific number of assists but I want to have a lot more than last year. I want to keep showing improvement each year and as a young player, that is what you want to do.

“As a team, I want to just do as well as we can to push for a play-off spot. We are not in the position we were last season, but we have shown before we can come out of bad points and made it positive. We just want to be as positive as we can and see where we go.”

The 21-year-old played 60 minutes against the Swans at the weekend before making way for Harry Leonard, who returned to the side after a month out of action with a calf issue.

Dolan was unlucky not to get an assist in the opening stages when his cross was turned wide of the post by Callum Brittain after a well-worked move.