Joe Rankin-Costello wants to add more goals for Blackburn Rovers after netting in their first pre-season match of the summer.

The 24-year-old opened the scoring for Rovers against Accrington Stanley on Saturday, tapping in from close range after a short corner-kick routine.

Rankin-Costello has proven to be a goal threat for Rovers. Under Jon Dahl Tomasson that came from right-back but he has been used in midfield by John Eustace.

At the weekend, he occupied a right midfield role, often drifting inside into attacking positions, with Callum Brittain providing width on the right-hand side.

READ MORE: ROVERS LATEST ON MCFADZEAN AND FLECK TALKS

Rankin-Costello has always been happy to play wherever but midfield does seem a natural home for him now. He wants to bring more goals to the team next year.

"It's good because the gaffer likes me coming inside and I think it suits me in that number eight position," he told The Lancashire Telegraph.

"Hopefully, I can get more goals from that position as well.

"I've said before, I'll play wherever the manager wants me to, as long as I'm playing. I think I can be a threat from midfield so that's what I want to do."

The emphasis for Rovers in these early matches is fitness and to implement parts of their training sessions on the pitch.

After focusing on survival and being difficult to beat, Eustace wants to improve the attacking side of his team. Rovers want to be more proactive and able to win more tight matches.

Every player got 45 minutes for Rovers as Eustace used his squad. The first XI was filled with the senior players with other Academy players given an opportunity in the second half.

Rankin-Costello admitted it was an important run-out after two weeks or pre-season training. Fitness remains the key for Rovers in these early matches.

"It was tough, we have only been back for two weeks. It's always good to get the first 45 minutes over and done with," he said.

"I thought we played some good stuff but it's all about fitness really. It was nice to score and that's something I want to do more this season.

"You put in the hard work and this is the fun bit. We'll be playing more games and we can then build up to 90 minutes ahead of the new season."

"It's been tough but it's been good because it has been mainly football. Footballers like to play football and so that's good, I've enjoyed it and we've been happy," he added.

"The back end of last season was tough because it was all about staying up and being hard to beat.

"This pre-season we have been focusing a lot more on how we can beat teams and how we can play football against teams."

Rovers next play Tranmere Rovers in a behind-closed-doors friendly next weekend before travelling to Austria for a seven-day training camp.

They will play German side Nurnberg whilst overseas before returning on July 21.

"It'll be good. In times like that, you get to find out about people more and stay there for a couple of weeks. It'll be good team bonding," Rankin-Costello said."