The wait is almost over for Blackburn Rovers fans. After a near two-month absence, Rovers are back in action on Saturday to mark the start of pre-season.
Jon Dahl Tomasson's reign in the dugout starts at Accrington Stanley this weekend. Rovers will fly back to the UK after a warm-weather training camp in Portugal where the first-team squad and a collection of promising youngsters have been trying to catch the eye of their new head coach.
The hope is that group bonding, fresh ideas and plenty of fitness work will help preparations for the 2022/23 season, which is now less than four weeks away.
Rovers have a packed pre-season schedule, starting at the Wham Stadium this weekend. A Scotland doubleheader follows next week before trips to Hartlepool United and Lincoln City round off the early-season warm-up schedule.