CHARLIE Mulgrew will mark 50 games as a Rovers player this weekend and boss Tony Mowbray has praised his skipper’s quality both and off the pitch.

Mowbray installed Mulgrew as club captain in the summer and the 31-year-old has repaid his manager’s faith with five goals and some solid defensive performances.

The Scot has missed just one game so far this campaign after injury restricted him to just 30 appearances in his debut season at Ewood Park following a summer move from Celtic.

Mowbray will hope to keep it that way given the defender has become an instrumental part of the side with his leadership, as well as his set plays and goal threat.

“Both as a footballer and a man, Charlie Mulgrew is a very impressive individual,” Mowbray told the club’s official website.

“He’s someone I knew well from my time in Scotland a few years back. His qualities as a player are second to none, they’re all for there to see.

“He brings human and leadership qualities to the job, leads the team with his voice and mannerisms and takes control of certain situations, as we saw at Oxford (on Tuesday night).

“I hope we are successful for the likes of Charlie. He trains every day as if it’s his last day.

“We’re delighted he’s with us. We need to keep him fit, motivated - which he is anyway - and to keep the likes of Mulgrew (at the club) we need promotion. For me his talent exceeds League One level. Let’s keep Charlie going and the points will keep totting up.”