Bradley Dack is gearing up for his first pre-season in three years and knows the importance of this summer.

The last two summers for Dack have been spent recuperating from cruciate knee ligament injuries, but fitness will remain the focus for Rovers’ talisman in a bid to get in the best shape possible.

Dack came off the bench in nine of Rovers’ final 10 matches after recovering from a year out injured, but never for more than 45 minutes, with Tony Mowbray not keen to overburden the 28-year-old.

Mowbray stressed to Dack prior to his departure about the importance of the upcoming season in his bid to get back to his previous levels, with the former Rovers boss believing the attacker was among the best in the division, when his first injury struck in December 2019.

After 16 matches upon his return in late 2020, Dack sustained a second ACL injury.

And looking ahead to a first pre-season since 2019, he said: "I want to come back in the best shape I can possibly be to start on a roll next season.

"Having a solid six-week pre-season will be great for me, it’ll stand me in good stead.

"I was going to get married this summer, but that’s been pushed back to the summer of 2023. It just felt like it was the wrong time and I needed to focus on getting myself fully ready for the new season.”

Dack always stressed upon his latest return that it would not be until next season that he got back to his best, given his lack of football.

He scored his 50th Rovers goal when coming off the bench in the draw at Coventry City in April, and hopes to build on that in 2022/23.

He added: "It’s been a difficult couple of years but it’s been nice to be back in and around the team.

"I don’t think I’ll be properly back up to speed until the start of next season, everyone knows that, but the pre-season will be crucial to get my body right.

"There have been a few little niggles with the knee and the back problem that I had towards the end of last season, but to be back has been an unbelievable feeling. I hope next year will be my year."

Mowbray said prior to his departure that he had spoken with Dack about how he can help guide Rovers’ young players next season, and referenced that again after the final day win at Birmingham City.

“Bradley Dack has the potential to be the best player in this league. I've just said in front of the players, he needs to have an amazing pre-season,” he said.

“Forget about the football, just work your socks off to get fit. Get lean, athletic and strong. The football will take care of itself because there aren't many better footballers in the Championship with his ability to score goals.

“He needs to get his fitness levels where they need to be, he has been very committed and focused. He needs to help this team with lots of young players, he needs to be the stand-out player in the team that wins them games.”

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