GARY Bowyer insists Blackburn Rovers fans will see the best of Luke Varney this season.

Varney was unable to make much of an impression during his three-month spell at Rovers at the back end of the last campaign.

But the 31-year-old, who did not score in nine substitute appearances and three starts, will get the chance to prove his worth in 2014-15.

The versatile striker has signed a one-year permanent deal after his contract at Championship rivals Leeds expired.

And Rovers boss Bowyer, who has made Varney his second summer signing after the arrival of Chris Brown, said: “The fans didn’t see much of Luke last season but that was purely down to the impressive form of Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede.

“But Luke still played his part as the fact that he was in the squad served to spur Jordan and Rudy on.

“He is competitive and I know he will be coming into the building desperate to get into the team.

“He’s going to push Jordan, Rudy and Browny for a place in the starting line-up.

“Yes he’s not played as many games as he would have liked for us yet but when he did play he proved he is a proper team player.

“It’s not about him as an individual – he’s all for the team.

“He fits massively into the culture that we’ve trying to develop here, where the team is the most important thing.”

Varney will be present at Brockhall this morning when the Rovers players return for pre-season training.

Bowyer, whose squad was beset by injuries last season, will report a clean bill of health.

He added: “I just wish we had a game on Saturday as everybody’s fit!

“Adam Henley and Ben Marshall have both been in early to make sure they are fully recovered from the injuries they picked up last season and Tommy Spurr, who also had an injury, came in over the summer.

“But they are not the only ones. We’ve had lads coming in over the last 10 days dying to get started.

“The professionalism of the lads has been fantastic. It’s a real positive and it shows that we have brought good characters into the squad.”

Bowyer’s players will be put through rigorous fitness tests today and tomorrow before going out on to the field for the first time on Friday.

Each player was given an individual close-season programme by the club’s head of sports science Chris Neville before he travelled to the World Cup as part of England’s backroom staff.

And Bowyer said: “I’m sure they will all come back in and be fit and ready to go.

“They really look after themselves and the programmes that they have been given are excellent.

“We’re just excited to get all the lads back now.”