Blackburn defender Marcus Olsson is convinced the Rovers can mount a promotion challenge next season.

The Ewood Park outfit finished in ninth place in the Championship last season, 22 points behind second-placed Watford and 11 adrift of Ipswich in sixth.

However, Olsson feels they competed well against most of the top teams in the division and believes if they can find some consistency next term they will be able to challenge for an automatic promotion spot or a play-off place.

Blackburn are 26.00 to win the Championship outright and 8.50 to secure promotion.

Rovers took four points off eventual champions Bournemouth last term and managed a point against Watford, although they were arguably unlucky to taste defeat at the Hornets.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: “Hopefully we can push up to the Premier League, which I think we have the ability in the squad to do.

“I think we’ve shown we can play really well. Against Bournemouth here we outplayed them, when we were 3-0 up after half an hour and could have had more. Both games against Watford, too.

“The only two teams we had a problem with were Norwich [who went up via the play-offs] and Derby.

“They were the teams we played twice and didn’t deserve to get any points.”

Blackburn open their Championship campaign at home to Wolves on August 8 and they are 2.40 to take all three points. A win for the visitors is 2.88 and the draw is 3.20.