BOSS Tony Mowbray believes Corry Evans has emerged as a key player for the club in the closing weeks of the season as the midfielder prepares for his 150th appearance in a Rovers shirt.

The Northern Ireland international has been a regular for Rovers this term making 40 appearances in all competitions and has established himself as the first choice partner for Richie Smallwood in the middle of midfield.

The 27-year-old struggled with injury last term and didn’t feature at all under Mowbray in the Championship but the Ewood chief has been pleased with his performances in League One, particularly in the run-in as Rovers secured promotion back to the Championship.

“I would have to say that Corry in the last two months has been as good a player as we’ve had out on the pitch,” said Mowbray.

“His drive, determination and desire and his simplistic but quality passing has been top notch.”

Should Evans feature against Oxford this evening it will be a milestone appearance for the former Hull man who moved to East Lancashire in 2013.

He has not had it plain sailing under Mowbray with Peter Whittingham signed from Cardiff City in the summer to add extra competition while Elliott Bennett has also emerged as a central midfielder this term.

But Evans has kept his place in the first choice XI and the Rovers chief revealed he had been pleased with the former Manchester United youngster’s attitude.

Mowbray added: “He has had his injury problems, he didn’t play one game for me last season, he’s had some injury issues this year but he’s overcome them and I think he realises the level that we’re trying to play at.”

“If he was to get himself in the team having sat outside the team for quite a while, with various players playing there, and Bennett emerging as a midfield player alongside Smallwood, he had to try and displace that partnership.

“It was only through his drive in training and his extra motivation that allowed him to force his way back in to the team and keep himself in the team.

“His performance level was what kept him in the team.”

Evans will now be keen to play regular Championship football next term having spent all his career in the top two divisions.

And Mowbray has backed the 44-cap Northern Ireland international to continue to improve.

“Moving forward he needs to (keep his performance level high), he needs to recognise that football is a game when you’re competing every day in training to get in the team,” the Rovers boss added.

“Corry realised that’s how I managed and he wasn’t going to get in the team on reputation or because he played for Northern Ireland, he had to work hard and show me in training that he can compete with Smallwood, Bennett and Whittingham.

“They have to all show hunger and he’s done that and been successful towards the end of the season.