Harry Leonard is eager to make the most of a "big" pre-season as he aims to impress John Eustace following a lengthy injury absence.

The young forward was regularly involved during the first half of last term, scoring four goals 22 matches, but saw his campaign cut short by a back problem.

Leonard is determined to show Eustace, who took charge at Ewood Park in February, that he can be relied upon over the coming season.

“The next few months will be big,” he told RoversTV. “I have got to show the manager he can trust me and show him what I am about on the pitch.

“I am still coming back from my injury so I will try my best to be 100 per cent for the first day of pre-season. But if it takes me a few weeks to get back to where I was, I am sure he can understand that.

“He has been great with me, he put his arm round me when I was gutted. I was beside myself when I knew the injury would take a while but I’m getting near that stage where I can feel good again and show him what I’m about.”

The 20-year-old learnt lots during his spell in the side, which got off to a dream start with a clinical finish against West Brom on the opening day.

“The first six or seven months of the season, I felt like I played a lot of games and got a lot of minutes,” he continued.

“I can only take that experience into the upcoming season and I feel like it has put me in a good position. I have learnt from those experiences and am in a better position now to try and build on that.

“I had a few lows – being in and out of the team and not getting many minutes at times. But I feel like that makes you a stronger person and player, mentally and physically.

“When I was getting those minutes, there is nothing more you want as a young lad than going out in front of the fans at Ewood and playing with the lads. It has spurred me on to play more games and get more goals.”

Sam Szmodics carried most of the burden in the final third last season, finding the net more than 30 times in all competitions.

Eustace has spoken about needing more sources of goals as the side aims to kick on next term, and Leonard hopes he can contribute on that front.

“I feel good on the grass, running, shooting but I just want to get that feeling again – being around the lads in training,” he explained.

“(The injury) didn’t come at the best of times but I have got to take the positives. If you had said to me at the start of the season I would do what I did…

“Obviously, I wanted to kick on in the second half of the season but I have got to get my head down in pre-season and make sure I have a really good season.”