Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has warned his players of a tough preseason ahead.

While the search for a striker continues to be hampered by a lack of transfer funds, Allardyce believes he can do something to improve his side's fitness this summer.

Allardyce told the Lancashire Telegraph: "We are back before anyone else. We are back on the 28th of June, so we are doing all we can to be fitter than we were last year.

"If there were two things we could improve on it would be our fitness and our goal scoring. If we can improve on those we will be very, very good next year.

"One of the good things for us is we were safe with eight games to go last season. Me and the backroom staff have got all guns blazing in terms of fitness tests and fitness programmes."