Having waited so long for his chance, before taking it with both hands, Joe Rothwell was disappointed to see last season end when it did.

He starred in the final seven games, scoring twice, having started just five of the first 37 Championship matches following his arrival from Oxford United.

Competition looks fierce in the attacking areas for Rovers and the 24-year-old doesn't believe his credit in the bank from the end of last season will count for much when Tony Mowbray comes to naming his teams.

It is for that reason the former Manchester United youngster worked so hard in the off season in a bid to come back in the best shape possible and catch in the eye in pre-season.

Rothwell revealed last pre-season was the toughest of his career, but is hoping to have done enough in the friendlies to impress his manager.

“I finally got in the team and felt I finished the season strong, managed to score a couple of goals and get a few assists,” he said.

“It probably ended at a bad time for me but I knew I had to work hard over the summer and it was down to me to come back in pre-season and show the manager my levels are where they were.

“It’s a clean slate for everyone. New players have come in and I think you have to come back and think it’s a clean slate, not that you’re just going to come back and play.

“That’s what everyone has done and it will tough for the gaffer to pick a starting XI when the season starts.”

Rothwell was one of two players to complete the full 90 minutes in the win at Bury where he opened the scoring with a fine 25-yard strike. And the attacking midfielder said playing the whole game was something he had discussed with Mowbray pre-match.

“It was the first time in pre-season and it’s something I felt I needed to do,” he added.

“I spoke to the gaffer before the game and he asked if I was able to do it.

“He said to see how I felt after 60 and I felt okay then I could do. The main aim in pre-season is to get as many minutes as possible.

“If any lads feel they haven’t had enough minutes then it’s something you can mention to the gaffer and he will try and do it.

“He asked me before the game if I was ready to play 90 and I felt that I was.”

The club's goal of the season vote had already started when Rothwell scored what proved to be the winner in the win at Nottingham Forest in late April.

He had opened his Rovers account earlier that month, with his strike at Gigg Lane lighting up the friendly.

“I don’t seem to score easy ones,” he joked.

“It was nice to get off the mark, and as I said last season, something I need to add to my game is more goals.

“I wouldn’t mind one in and around the six yard box, but I’ll take them how they come.”

Ben Brereton, Sam Gallagher, Adam Armstrong and summer signing Stewart Downing will all compete with Rothwell for  the wide berths next season.

While Rothwell craves a more central role, he feels he can do that when drifting in from the left.

“Playing just off the left it gives me more licence to drift inside and roam around the pitch that bit more rather than playing on the other side when you play higher.

“I think it suits my game more, I try and get on the ball as much as possible, whether that’s dropping deep or going in behind, and I feel it’s a position I can keep trying to build and get better at.”