CORRY Evans will resume pre-season training with the rest of the Rovers squad when they return to Brockhall for fitness testing on Wednesday.

Evans has struggled with a long-standing groin problem and featured just once for Rovers in 2017.

However, he has worked hard on his fitness during the close season and head coach Tony Mowbray is eager to welcome the Northern Ireland international back in to the fold.

“I'm looking forward to having Corry Evans fit,” said Mowbray.

“Corry has worked through the whole of pre-season so he’ll be ready to join in with everybody else when they start. So as I’ve said I'm looking forward to having him fit and healthy and part of the squad.

“I think we are going to have to manage his introduction back in, not to throw him in and play him for 90 minutes straight away and put too much strain on his body. To ease him back into football.”

Evans played 21 times for Rovers last season, but his last appearance came as a second half substitute in the 1-0 win over Newcastle United at Ewood Park on January 2.

He was called up to the Northern Ireland squad in March ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Norway as he looked close to returning to full fitness, but didn’t feature in the 2-0 win.

The 26-year-old also sat out wins over New Zealand and Azerbaijan earlier this month to work on his fitness ahead of Rovers’ 2017/18 campaign.

And Mowbray is looking forward to working with Evans, a player he feels possesses plenty of quality.

He added: “There were maybe two training sessions where Corry joined in when I first arrived.

“I can see that his ball retention is very high, he’s very tight with the football, so I’m looking forward to trying to put a midfield together that is both competitive and talented.

 “I can see the very obvious talent he possesses.”