By Mark Orlovac

Ryan has been at Kingsholm since the summer of 2002

Gloucester coach Dean Ryan has played down expectations of his emerging stars ahead of the new Premiership season.

A youthful Cherry and Whites squad had a storming end to the last campaign, winning the European Challenge Cup and finishing fifth in the league.

The season saw the emergence of players such as Ryan Lamb and Anthony Allen, but Ryan said: "I don't think their rapid development will continue.

"People are aware of their talent so it will be harder to impose themselves."

Much is expected of fly-half Lamb and centre Allen this season after some eye-catching displays last year.

The duo, as well as full-back Olly Morgan, have been named in England's senior national academy squad but Ryan, a former Newcastle and Wasps forward, is refusing to get carried away with his side's potential.

"There is a period now where we have to consolidate what we have achieved," he added. "And we have to make sure that we come out of that taking small steps at a time.

Lamb played for England in June's under-21 World Cup

"The Premiership has a knack of levelling everyone out pretty quickly.

"We must not think that now there will be rapid development every month and that we are going to go careering our way up the Premiership table.

"That won't happen, the coaching staff here are fairly experienced at managing expectations and focusing on things that we need to improve.

"We have a good work ethic and our environment keeps everyone grounded."

Gloucester are tipped by many to have a real chance of toppling champions Sale this season after a shrewd summer in the transfer market.

Italian forwards Marco Bortolami and Carlos Nieto, full-back Iain Balshaw and veteran French prop Christian Califano will all add experience to the Kingsholm squad.

"We have added some experience to the pack because we felt we were weak in certain areas," said Ryan. "We have done the same in the backline with Balshaw.

"The promise of the youngsters is great but you have to get the balance between youth and experience right. That balance is key."