Danny Coles believes Bristol Rovers' summer additions help to make a top-six finish a realistic ambition for the Pirates next season.

And the central defender says he is raring to go after missing the closing stages of the last campaign with a knee injury.

Rovers ended their first season back in League One in 16th place after a disappointing finish, but Coles believes the acquisition of Darryl Duffy and Jeff Hughes - with the possibility of more signings to come - can prompt a big improvement.

"We have got to better last season and I think we can do that quite easily and get a top-half finish," said Coles.

"But when you look at the signings that we've made - and the possibility we could get a couple more - I think we can finish in the top six, without a shadow of a doubt."

Coles played his part in selling Rovers to his pal Duffy when the Scottish striker's £100,000 move from Swansea City was in the offing, and believes he can help add the goals the side found hard to come by last term.

The two players were team-mates at Hull City and Coles said: "I went up to Darryl's wedding in Scotland over the summer and we've been good friends since he arrived at Hull.

"As soon as he knew about the interest from Rovers, he was on the phone asking what it was like. I wanted him to come down here anyway because he's a good mate.

"He's got pace, he's a natural goalscorer who will keep running and running, and his movement's very clever - you could see that when he played against us for Swansea last season."

Coles sat out the final seven games of that campaign after injuring his knee in a 0-0 home draw with Hartlepool - the club he had played for on loan during his time with Hull.

But he has made a full recovery and said: "I worked hard throughout the summer because I missed the last three or four weeks of the season. Fingers crossed, it feels good.

"If we had been involved in the play-offs at the end of last season, I probably would have played - but there was no point risking making the knee worse when we had nothing to really play for.

"Now I'm ready and raring to go."

Coles' form last term meant the 26-year-old was linked with interest from Plymouth Argyle over the summer.

But the Devon club have not contacted the Pirates over a player who still has two years left on his contract - and coach Paul Trollope has already spelled out that he wants to keep the former Bristol City defender.

Any interest the Pilgrims had is thought to have cooled since Dutchman Marcel Seip came off the Home Park transfer list.

While he would be interested in playing at a higher level, Coles insists he is still happy at Rovers.

"It proves I've done something right and it's flattering to be linked with a Championship club," added Coles.

"Every player wants to play at the highest standard they can.

"I'm happy here and I'm from Bristol so it was a case of coming back home when I joined Rovers.

"It worked for me because I found my form again and was playing like I had before I left Bristol - until I got injured.

"But if an opportunity did come along for me to step up and the money was right for the club, then it would be something I'd be interested in."

Rovers have confirmed admission prices for the only home friendly in their pre-season build-up, against Dutch side Den Haag on Saturday, August 2. They are £10 (adults) and £7 (concessions) in all terraced areas and the South Stand. Seats in the DAS and Uplands Stands are £12 and £7 respectively.

The club have also announced their squad numbers for next season: 1 Steve Phillips, 2 Ryan Green, 3 Joe Jacobson, 4 Chris Lines, 5 Craig Hinton, 6 Steve Elliott, 7 Stuart Campbell, 8 Andy Williams, 9 Rickie Lambert, 10 Darryl Duffy, 11 Jeff Hughes, 13 Mike Green, 14 David Pipe, 15 Byron Anthony, 16 Danny Coles, 18 Ben Hunt, 19 Sean Rigg, 20 Craig Disley, 21 Tom Parrinello, 22 Joe White, 23 Ben Swallow, 24 Alex Kite, 25 James Tyrell, 26 Lewis Haldane (on loan to Oxford United), 27 Matt Groves, 28 Adam Mahdi, 29 Josh Klein-Davies, 30 Charlie Reece, 31 Charlie Clough, 32 Aaron Lescott, 34 James Fraser, 35 Richard Walker (on loan to Shrewsbury Town).