The Rovers players will return to pre-season tomorrow with a new face in their ranks after Stewart Downing became the club's first summer signing.

While his pedigree, a Premier League regular throughout his career and 36 England caps, make him a recognisable figure, a strong north east presence at the club also mean he won't need many introductions.

While Downing is heralded as one of Middlesbrough's best academy graduates, he himself admits Tony Mowbray was a 'hero' of his growing up on Teesside.

Downing was released by Boro in the summer, and said a sit down with the Rovers boss made the move feel like the right one to make.

Mowbray puts great value on the characters within a dressing room, and while the departure of Craig Conway will leave a big hole, Downing's presence could well be a valuable one.

Signing players in the latter stages of their career have brought scepticism from some supporters, and with good reason, given the mistakes of yesteryear. But although 35 next month, Downing's deal is just for 12 months, and having played 40 times last season, feels there is plenty left for him to give.

And he's looking forward to working under his new manager.

“As a Boro fan growing up, he was a hero of mine," he explained of Mowbray who played over 420 times for his hometown club.

“I just like the way his teams always play.

“He’s got a really good reputation in the game, players love to play for him and you can see that when you speak to him one-on-one.

“His ideas of how he wants to set the team up and what he likes, not only on the field but off the field as well. I really like him, I’ve got a lot of respect for him and that’s why I wanted to come and play for him.

“He knows his stuff. He knows a lot of systems and ways of playing.

“He knows players. And he knows what he wants, which is good, because you get a clear idea of how he wants to play.

“I was excited with the way he wants me to fit into his team and how he sees the team playing, and that’s why I want to come and play for him.”

Mowbray just pips Downing on the Middlesbrough all-time appearance list, with the winger having reached 400 earlier this year.

While his early days at Boro, as well as spells at Aston Villa, Liverpool and West Ham were largely spend on the left flank, he said of a possible position within the Rovers team: “In quite a few roles to be honest.

“First and foremost I’ve got to work hard in pre-season and get in the team.

“Wherever the manager sees me fit to play, I’m not too fussed. I just want to play. I came here to play and get games, so wherever he sees fit, I’m not too fussed.”

Downing's first spell at Middlesbrough, between 2001 and 2009, saw him link up with Danny Graham at a time when Richie Smallwood was making his way through the ranks.

His return to the Riverside in 2015 saw him get to know Harry Chapman and with all three now team-mates at Rovers, he believes that will make that settling in period a lot easier.

He added: "I've been speaking to Danny the last couple of weeks.

"Throughout our careers, we've always kept in touch.

"He came into Middlesbrough quite late into his development. He didn't really do the youth team route.

"I've always got on well with Danny. He's a good lad, he'll work hard for you and he got a lot of goals last season for the team.

"Chappy was obviously a young player at Middlesbrough and I know Richie Smallwood as well. I saw him on holiday last week, so he was asking if I was signing.

"I basically just said to him 'give me a couple of days'.

"It's nice when you go to a new club and you see people you know. It makes it easier to settle.

"I've been in clubs where I've not known anyone and it's quite, not daunting, but it takes you a couple of weeks to find your feet.

"But already, I've got a feeling that I'll settle quite quickly."

Downing has signed a 12 month deal at Rovers and it is understood there is no option within that.

That is no surprise given his experiences of last season, with Downing confined to the bench for several months due to a clause in his previous deal that meant one more start would trigger an automatic one-year extension.

He waived that clause to make himself available for the final weeks of the campaign, and has taken a relaxed approach to this deal, with considerations also about the possibility of moving in to coaching, with Downing working on his B licence.

Good friend, and former team-mate Jonathan Woodgate was named Boro boss earlier this month, which had raised the prospect of him staying at the Riverside. But he made the move to Ewood Park and will be working under Mowbray who is a big admirer of his talent.