Former Rovers loanee Jack Byrne says he was promised a starring role when signed by Owen Coyle, and that Pep Guardiola would be in the stands watching.

Byrne signed for Rovers from Manchester City on a season-long deal in 2016, but would start just three Championship matches before being sent back to his parent club six months in.

Still only 22, Byrne has since been with Wigan, Oldham and Kilmarnock, before joining League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers where his form has earned him a call up to the Republic of Ireland squad.

Byrne left City without making an appearance for the senior side, but was hotly tipped for a bright future in the game when he arrived at Ewood Park. But he struggled to even make the first team squad for much of his loan spell, before his departure.

Reflecting on that time, Byrne told reporters: “When I was speaking to Owen Coyle he was telling me that when we’re playing on a Tuesday night Pep Guardiola would be up here watching.

“That was kind of in the back of my head because I was after doing so well.

“Maybe I was a bit naive but you make decisions and think what might be the best one for you.

“Owen Coyle said, ‘You’re going to play every game, you’re going to play No 10’. Then we played 4-4-2 and I was playing central midfield.

“I had a house in Manchester, it was up the road so it seemed like a good idea at the time to probably play 40 games in the Championship, then take it from there.

“Football doesn’t work like that, things didn’t start well. Wes Hoolahan was unbelievable on the first day when we lost 4-1 to Norwich. He ran the show.

“The manager is under pressure straight away to get results.

“Back then I couldn’t get my head around that.

“I was young and thinking, ‘I need to be in every team and be the best player every week’.”