Blackburn Rovers will be looking to make progress under Tony Mowbray heading into the 2021/22 campaign, with the Ewood Park side having dropped off somewhat towards the end of last season. 

The Lancashire outfit will be seeking  to remain ambitious in their attempts to get out of the Sky Bet Championship, with Mowbray's men having played some good football at times in the campaign just gone.

Much of this summer will be taken up by speculation surrounding the future of their star man Adam Armstrong, with the striker having been linked heavily with a move to the Premier League.

Adequately replacing the forward will be key if Rovers are to have any chance of making waves in the top six race over the coming months.

Here, we take an early look at what Blackburn Rovers' XI could look like against Swansea on the opening day.

The Belgian keeper has firmly established himself as Mowbray's number one choice between the sticks and it appears highly that he will remain in that position for the upcoming 2021/22 campaign.

Kaminski has acquitted himself brilliantly since making the move over from his homeland and is sure to only continue to improve as he enters the prime years of his career.

There are certain areas of his game that need some work but all of them can be improved by increased exposure to the Sky Bet Championship and it's methods.

He could be set for another great season at Ewood Park.

The Blackburn academy graduate has now firmly committed his future to the club after securing a contract extension and it appears likely that he will line up against the Swans on the opening day of the upcoming season.

He has adapted well to playing at right back and has really developed his dribbling and ball carrying skills to great effect.

Nyambe now provides a great attacking outlet down the right hand side and also has the ability to get up and down the line well in order to support his teammates in defensive and offensive situations.

He will once again be key for Rovers moving forwards.

The Irishman heads into the 2021/22 campaign off the back of a brilliant season just gone at Ewood Park and should keep his place at the heart of the backline.

Lenihan played 44 games across all competitions for Rovers and has gone a long way towards proving just why Mowbray has so much faith in his ability.

Now well into his prime, the Dublin born defender has bided his time well and taken his chance when it was handed to him, which must make the move from Ireland back in 2011 seem all the more worth it in present day.

The Spanish centre back will be looking to make up for lost time after being side lined for almost entirety of the season just gone through injury.

Set to come into the side like a new signing of sorts, Ayala should provide the perfect partner for Lenihan and is a brilliant stopper as part of a back four.

The summer addition from Middlesbrough last year is commanding in the air and has leadership qualities that will greatly benefit not just the team as a whole but also the younger members of the squad moving forwards.

Ayala will be looking to prove that he was worth the punt.

The attacking left back agreed to sign for Rovers in January of this year from Crewe Alexandra and was then immediately loaned back to the Railwaymen for the remainder of last season.

Pickering will add some much needed natural width down the left hand side and is capable of contributing heavily during attacking phases of play thanks to his ability to whip in crosses.

He has the potential to make the position his own for the foreseeable future in a Blackburn shirt and could well become a real favourite with the fans as time goes on.

The young defender will be looking to prove that he can hack it at Championship level.

Travis will be expected to take his place in midfield alongside Bradley Johnson, with the young defensively minded player having previously been a regular during the 2019/20 campaign.

He has been a solid presence in the centre of the park since progressing through from the Rovers academy and provides a great shield in front of the back four.

Playing in a double pivot alongside the experienced Johnson should allow him to play his natural game and he will be expected to act as a destroyer that wins the ball back before laying the ball off to some of the team's more creative talents.

Now aged 34, Johnson is a seasoned campaigner who knows the Championship like the back of his hand and will once again be a key member of this Blackburn squad moving forwards.

The former Derby County and Norwich City midfielder has extended his stay at Ewood Park by a further 12 months and is expected to be a key voice in the dressing room for some of the younger members of the group.

Johnson still offers an offensive threat in the form of his powerful runs forward and long range striking ability and will be utilised in a box to box midfield role.

The newly called up Chile international has had an eventful summer to say the least so far and will be expected to take his form on the Copa America stage to the Sky Bet Championship when he returns to England.

A player who could be best described as a wide target man, Brereton is a player who is good at finding room in the half spaces and is capable of affecting the game from deep and more advanced positions on the field.

He is also capable of playing wide or centrally, which means that Mowbray has a plan B as such when he looks to utilise the Stoke born attacker.

Rothwell is a player who will once again have a lot of responsibility placed upon his shoulders heading into the 2021/22 campaign and he now has the chance to really make the number 10 position his own moving forwards in the absence of Bradley Dack.

Capable of playing in several different midfield positions, the former Oxford United man has fast developed into one of the first names on the team sheet at Ewood Park and will be looking to add more goals and assists to his game.

His creativity in the final third will be key to everything Blackburn do.

The former Southampton academy graduate is yet another forward player that Mowbray has utilised as a wide target man and he has shown gradual improvements to his all round game over the last 12 months.

After notching up an impressive eight goals and three assists from that wide area on the left last season, Gallagher is slowly becoming more of a key player with Rovers and will only continue to improve if then manager keeps faith with him.

He also offers the option of starting in a front two, which could be something that Blackburn look to experiment with as the season progresses.

Yates would be the ideal replacement for Adam Armstrong this summer and it has been reported recently that Rovers are indeed interested in bringing the 24-year-old to Ewood Park.

The Blackpool striker is also a player who likes to play on the shoulder of the last defender and is capable of picking the ball up from deep before driving at the opposition defence.

Born in Doncaster originally, the forward would have the opportunity to become the star man for Blackburn and would undoubtedly be confident of adding to the 23 goals and eight assists that he managed to plunder last term.

This could be the signing of the summer if Rovers can get it done.