Darragh Lenihan feels Rovers have proved they aren’t far away as they look to end their first season back in the Championship on a winning note.

The four-game winning run was ended at league leaders Norwich City on Saturday as they secured promotion to the Premier League.

Rovers were in the top six mix in January, when they won all four games, but a run of one win in 11 games saw them slide down the table.

They are in with a chance of a top half finish as they prepare to welcome Swansea City to Ewood Park on Sunday (12.30pm), and Lenihan feels the campaign is one they can definitely learn from.

He said: “We came up from League One and competed against the best teams.

“We had a sticky patch and you’re left thinking if we got a few more points there then we could be looking at the top six.

“We’re not that far away. We might need some help in the summer but I think next season will be a big one for the club and I think we’ll be there or thereabouts.”

Lenihan’s return to the side has coincided with improved defensive performances from Rovers.

The two goals shipped at Carrow Road on Saturday means they will end the season with 48 goals conceded in 23 away games, currently the worst record in the division.

But only two sides have conceded fewer home goals than Rovers, with their previous five victories at Ewood coming with clean sheets.

Boss Tony Mowbray believes Lenihan, who captained the side for the Easter Monday win over Bolton, is destined for a bright future and Rovers will need to show their ambitions to keep the Republic of Ireland international at the club.

But the 25-year-old isn’t focusing on that, just keen to improve his game.

He added: “I can only do what I do in the games. I don’t focus on that, I just worry about my performance and the team performance, and what I am in control of.

“I’ll always be like that and have my head turned.”

Lenihan will hope to add to his two Ireland caps during the summer internationals.

Mick McCarthy’s side face Denmark on June 7 and then host Gibraltar three days later.

A call-up would impact on his summer break, and having been hit by injury already in 2019, the Academy graduate added: “I will need to stay fit.

“You always have to be fit because you don’t know whether you’re called in to the full squad or the provisional squad and what happens with injury.

“I will keep working hard whether I’m picked or not and do all I can.”