TONY Mowbray was pleased to see Marcus Antonsson get the rewards for his hard work after his brace at Bury.

Antonsson took his tally to six for the season with his first-half double at Gigg Lane in what was his 11th start since joining on loan from Leeds United.

Used in a role on the left of the Rovers attack, Mowbray revealed that the 26-year-old’s statistics after games often showed that he covers the most ground of any player.

And after his fifth and sixth goals of the season put Rovers on their way to three points, Mowbray said: “I’m really pleased for him.

“His physical stats in the games and in training are the highest, he does the most running of anyone in our team.

“It’s great when they get their rewards.

“We played him in a wide attacking position off the left feeling that we could get him in off the right sided centre half.

“He’s not sure what his strongest foot is, he can strike it with both equally well and can play either side.

“He’s an honest hardworking player who has a goal threat on the end of his boots and we’re pleased he’s here and playing his part.

“His headed goal was fantastic, what we had worked on, so pleased for him.

“They took on the information we had given them in a good build up to the game on how we were going to play and it’s nice to have done the work and the players do the business on the grass and make it work.”

With Harry Chapman and Craig Conway currently sidelined by injuries, Antonsson was used from the left, flanking Joe Nuttall who was handed his first league start against his hometown team.

Mowbray has switched things up in attack so far this season, with Nuttall given a go after his impressive scoring form for the Under-23s and an excellent start to life in the senior side.

He passed up a good chance prior to Antonsson’s second goal, but Mowbray praised his contribution leading the line against three centre halves.

He added: “He did great, he’s a handful, he’s a threat and he needed to play.

“Every time we have put him on the pitch he’s scored a goal, I think it’s the first time I’ve been involved with him that I haven’t seen him score a goal.

“He’s a young footballer with massive potential, we have to try and eek it out of him and give him that opportunity.

“It’s great that if I think he’s put so much in to the game that I can to turn to (Dominic) Samuel or (Danny) Graham, we have those options.

“I’m happy for Joe that he’s now what I would call a first-team player, trains with us every day, works with the group every day.

“I’m disappointing for Damien and Dunny because he won’t be scoring goals for the Under-23s from now but pleased that he’s pushed himself in to this situation with his talent and his goals.”