Callum Brittain is confident Rovers are heading in the right direction – and hopes they can keep finding the right “balance”.

John Eustace’s men returned to winning ways before the international break thanks to a positive display at Cardiff.

That result left the side ninth in the Championship table and three points off the play-off places as they aim to build on a solid start.

Brittain was part of the Barnsley squad that reached the play-offs in 2020/21 and narrowly missed out with Rovers a couple of season ago.

The versatile full-back believes that anything is possible in this division as long as they stick together and keep putting in the hard yards.

“I still believe we can do it,” he told RoversTV. “We have got a great squad here this year, a lot more depth and more experience.

“Anything can happen and I believe that everyone here wants it as much as I do. Hopefully, it can happen in my career and happen here.

“We came seventh and then had a tough season last year. It is just about getting the balance, not getting too high or too low.

“There is a fresh air around the place this year and I know we have had a couple of defeats, but we just move forward and take each game as it comes.”

Brittain was almost an ever-present figure last term as Rovers battled against the drop and has been encouraged by the progress they have made in recent months, despite some frustrating results prior to the Cardiff trip.

The 26-year-old added: “Being realistic, after a season like last year you can’t say no to being (near the play-offs).

“But I think we are a better team this year, we have got better characters in the squad and more experience.

“I truly believe that we can take that extra step and keep improving, it is a good place to be in. We are obviously disappointed with the defeats but we can only learn and get better.”

Rovers kicked off the campaign with five successive wins on home turf, and Brittain knows the importance of making Ewood Park a fortress.

Eustace’s men will be aiming to get more points on the board when Portsmouth make the trip to East Lancashire next weekend.

“It is massive. If you can get that togetherness with the fans and the squad at home, it will be a lot easier over the season,” Brittain explained.

“It is hard going away to teams in this league and that is something we want to get better at. It is massive that everyone sticks together at home and we keep getting those results.”

Meanwhile, Balasz Toth has pulled out of international duty with an ankle injury and returned to Rovers, the Hungarian FA has confirmed.

Demjen Patriko has been added to Marco Rossi’s squad in Toth’s absence ahead of the Nations League matches against the Netherlands and Germany.

The goalkeeper arrived at Ewood Park over the summer but is yet to make his first-team debut, with Aynsley Pears impressing between the sticks.