IF the price of assembling the strongest squad of his Blackburn Rovers’ reign is more players showing their frustration then it is one that Gary Bowyer is fully prepared to pay.

On the eve of tomorrow’s Lancashire derby with Wigan Athletic the Rovers boss believes the arrivals of Jason Steele, Shane Duffy and Ryan Tunnicliffe on transfer deadline day has provided him with genuine ‘quality’ competition for places in most areas of the field.

But Bowyer accepts the direct consequence of that is it will be impossible to keep everybody happy.

Last week, after a lively second-half showing for Norway against England at Wembley, winger Josh King expressed his exasperation at his lack of playing time at Rovers.

His manager, however, has no problem with that.

“Good – if someone is not in the team I wouldn’t want them to be happy, I’d want them to be frustrated,” said Bowyer, whose side went down 3-1 at Wolves in their last game before the international break.

“Like Kingy said in his interview, it’s up to him to respect the decision and work very hard – and that’s the same for everybody.

“We’ve got some real competition for places now so we’re going to have more frustrated players, that’s for sure.

“But I’d rather have people who are frustrated because it shows that they care, rather than them being happy to sit on the bench and pick up their money.

“We’re certainly not bringing people in just to sit on the bench. The likes of Luke Varney and Chris Taylor aren’t happy sitting on the bench.

“You saw the impact Tayls made when he came on at Wolves – that’s what we demand and that’s what we want from every player.”

King, Grant Hanley and Corry Evans have returned from international duty to a Rovers squad boosted by the signings of goalkeeper Steele, defender Duffy and midfielder Tunnicliffe.

“The three new boys have settled in great,” said Bowyer, who has refused to rule out a move for a striker on loan after Chris Brown underwent an operation to solve the knee problem that has prevented him from kicking a ball for the club following his summer switch from Doncaster.

“They have been exactly what we thought they would be and more.

“We’re delighted with the progress they are making and what their arrivals have done is raise the intensity of training because there is some fresh blood in the squad and everyone is now fighting for a shirt.

“We’re proud of that. It has taken time, like we said it would, but we are getting there.

“It’s something we’ve not had throughout our time here, because of numbers and because of injuries, but the actual quality we’ve now got in the squad is something we’re really pleased with.”

One of the biggest selection posers Bowyer faces for tomorrow’s home clash with big-spending Wigan comes between the posts.

Does he keep faith with Paul Robinson, the former England international who has just celebrated his 200th appearance for the club, or does he throw the young but experienced Steele straight into the fray?

Yesterday, however, he was giving little away.

“In all areas of the pitch we’ve got masses of competition and that is no different,” said Bowyer, who confirmed there are no loans out of club currently lined-up for either of his other senior keepers, Simon Eastwood and Jake Kean.

“It’s something for us to look at but what it has done is increase the intensity and the competition in that department.”

Bowyer will welcome back Markus Olsson tomorrow after he missed the loss at Wolves due to a family bereavement.

But fellow left back Tommy Spurr, despite stepping up his rehabilitation from a groin injury, is still around two weeks away from a full return.

Striker Rudy Gestede is back in training after failing a late test before the Wolves match.