Garrett? 4 Blackburn Rovers players that need to prove a point in pre-season or risk 2024/25 axe | OneFootball

A look at the Blackburn Rovers players who may have a point to prove in pre-season

Highlights

It is not long now until Blackburn Rovers get their pre-season friendly schedule underway.

With the first-team squad having returned to training earlier this week, their first friendly outing comes on Saturday 6th July.

That will see them make the trip to League Two side Accrington Stanley, where they will play two 60 minute matches.

This is the first pre-season for Blackburn since the appointment of John Eustace as head coach back in February.

As a result, this will be a chance for him to really put his mark on the team, and work out what he needs in the transfer window, to shape it in the way he wants.

In turn, that means there is going to be pressure on certain players to impress this summer, and show they are worthy of a place in the side for the coming campaign, rather than being moved on in the transfer window.

So with that in mind, we've taken a look at four Blackburn Rovers players who may need to prove a point in pre-season if they are to get a chance at Ewood Park in the coming campaign, right here.

Semir Telalovic

Signed to provide a much-needed centre forward option on the final day of last season's summer transfer window, Semir Telalovic endured a difficult debut season at Ewood Park.

He failed to score in his 20 appearances in all competitions, missing some big and costly chances in the process.

Indeed, by the end of campaign, Eustace looked reluctant to use the 24-year-old even when Blackburn were in need of a goal, rarely sending him on from the bench.

As a result, if Telalovic cannot produce a greater return in pre-season, the Rovers boss may again be hesitant about using him once the season begins, which could then see him either stuck on the sidelines, or lined up for a move elsewhere.

Jake Garrett

Starting just six Championship games last season, Jake Garrett could find competition for places in the centre of midfield even harder to come by in the coming campaign.

Captain Lewis Travis is returning after a loan spell at Ipswich Town, and looks as though he could be a player that suits John Eustace. Meanwhile, Joe Rankin-Costello ended the season well in a more natural midfield role, while John Fleck is still training with the club in a bid to earn a new deal.

Meanwhile, links with the likes Greg Doherty, Paik Seung-Ho and Kalidou Sidibe suggest that eustace is keen to strengthen Blackburn's midfield as well.

Garrett may therefore need an impressive pre-season to show that he can do that job at Ewood park, and avoid a summer of speculation about his own future that a new signing could bring about, given the surplus that would seemingly leave the club with, in midfield.

Georgie Gent

Having come through the club's youth ranks, Georgie Gent is yet to make a senior first-team appearance for Rovers.

He did however, impress during a loan spell in the Scottish Premiership with Motherwell last season, winning plenty of praise for his performances.

As a result, pre-season is an opportunity for him to show that he can now be the cover and competition that Blackburn need for Harry Pickering at left-back in the Championship.

If that doesn't happen, then with just a year remaining on his current contract at Ewood Park, the club may have a decision to make on his future, while they still have the chance to cash in on him.

Leo Wahlstedt

It was a tough debut campaign for Leo Wahlstedt at Ewood Park last season, after he was brought in to bolster the goalkeeping department following Thomas Kaminski's move to Luton Town.

Wahlstedt found it difficult to adapt to life in the Championship, looking suspect when dealing with crosses into his penalty area, and making some poor errors that lost points for Blackburn.

In the wake of that, reports have already claimed that clubs in Denmark are interested in signing the goalkeeper, while Rovers are said to have an interest in another goalkeeper in John Ruddy.

With that in mind, if Wahlstedt continues to struggle to convince in pre-season, it could give the club further incentive to move him on and step up their pursuit of another goalkeeper, in order to secure the solidity they badly need between the posts.