John Eustace has admitted he would've liked Blackburn Rovers' new signings to have benefitted from a full pre-season.

Rovers begin their Championship season on Friday night against Derby County with five additions to the squad. Given the late nature of last week's signing spree, only Makhtar Gueye and Yuki Ohahsi are certain to be involved against the Rams.

With Sam Gallagher gone and Sam Szmodics absent, Eustace's squad doesn't look especially stronger overall heading into matchday one.

Whilst pre-season has been a good opportunity for the existing group to get more time with the coaching staff, the Rovers boss admitted he'd have liked more time to work with new faces before the season opener.

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"It's been very good for the squad to be together but we've only signed five players in the last week so they haven't benefitted from that work," he said.

"That's key but the core group that's been here last year have had a key six or seven weeks. Now it's really important that they and the five players we brought in get to know the squad.

"You need a full squad of players at the start of the six weeks to really make that big impact. The group have worked their socks off over the last seven weeks but maybe only half will be involved in the opening game. 

"It's been difficult to sign five players late, we have to get them ready and some are very short of fitness and match minutes. We can't rush them, they're three or four weeks behind everyone else.

"The new signings coming in will take time to come in and make an impact. It's the nature of the beast, I'm of a 'no excuse' culture. 

"They all have a role to play, they're not in to play week in, week out. They're here to help develop players around them as well.

"If we could've had the perfect squad with seven weeks to prepare, it would've been a lot easier. That hasn't happened so I know everyone that's ready will be 100% committed."

Having ended last season 19th in the Championship and needing a win at champions Leicester City to survive on the final day, everyone is hoping for a more comfortable campaign.

Eustace has spoken openly about his ambitions to drive Rovers up the league table, though that won't be overnight.

He believes success for Rovers will be progression, with a long-term aim of getting the club promoted over the next few seasons.

"I think it's important that everyone can see a progression from last season. Everyone can see the togetherness and the club are building in the right way. 

"Success for me, is going home and away in the Championship, in a very difficult league, and being competitive. 

"We want to build over the next two or three seasons to get promoted. That's why I came here, to build properly. Success isn't a short-term thing.

"Last year was about staying in the league and now it's about progression. We want to build a competitive squad with three or four more players to help the group.

"It has to be done properly and I think we're starting to build now. Let's see a progression from last season."

He added: "A Friday night game at Ewood Park is a very exciting night. Everyone is looking forward to it.

"Everyone wants to win as many games as possible and we are no different. We want to get off to as good a start as we can.

"I'm sure it'll be a great atmosphere. I know Derby County well, they will bring three, four thousand and we'll get the place rocking. It should be a great night of football.

"We will be setting our standards high and we want to start that way this season."

Much of Rovers' fortunes will come down to replacing the goals of Szmodics, if he does indeed leave the football club. There are hopes for Gueye and Ohashi, though they will take time to adapt to English football.

Of those already in the squad, Eustace has high hopes that Tyrhys Dolan can kick on. The forward is into the last year of his deal but has taken a more prominent, central role in pre-season.

"I hope Ty really takes his chance, if he's given it, and scores a lot of goals," Eustace said.

"I think he scored five goals last season with four or five assists. We need to be doubling those numbers really going forward.

"Ty is on board with that, he agrees with it and we want to give him every opportunity to do that.

"I see him anywhere across the front four for us. He played as a number nine for us, at times, last season as well. Ty is a very effective player when given the opportunity to play, he's a fantastic member of the squad."