ON-FIRE Anthony Stokes has promised Blackburn Rovers fans there is more to come after making a flying start to his Ewood Park career.

The summer signing from Celtic bagged a brace in Tuesday’s 3-1 EFL Cup win at Mansfield Town and went close to making it a ‘perfect’ hat-trick with a left-footed shot that came back down off the bar.

Stokes’ double strike came hot on the heels of the consolation goal he scored as a second-half substitute in the 4-1 Championship opening day defeat at home to Norwich City.

Rovers will look to put that result right this Saturday when they make the short trip to the DW Stadium to take on promoted Wigan Athletic.

And Stokes, who opened the scoring at Mansfield with a deflected right-footed effort and sealed the success with a powerful header, said: “It’s a good start but there’s a long way to go.

“I said when I came here I wanted to make an impact and there’s no point starting off strong and then fading away.

“I want to get stronger and get my fitness up even more. I’m only a game-and-a-half in so there’s plenty more to come.

“I’ve just got to keep working hard and keep getting in the right positions in the game.

“I needed the 90 minutes (on Tuesday). I was a little bit tired toward the end but I was pushing for the hat-trick.

“I felt a bit unlucky when it hit the crossbar, as I thought it was in, but I was in the right positions to take my chances and I was unlucky with one or two others.”

The Republic of Ireland international’s opening goal was set-up by strike-partner and fellow new arrival Danny Graham.

And Stokes said: “Danny is great to play with. He’s strong, he’s good with the ball at his feet, and he links up well.

“I’m just trying to get in and around him, and try and get in and amongst the goals, and get in the areas where I can try and affect things.”

Stokes and Graham are set to be joined in the squad for Saturday’s Wigan clash by Southampton striker Sam Gallagher.

The 20-year-old is expected to complete his season-long loan move from the Saints this morning.

Gallagher will become new Owen Coyle’s seventh signing since taking over the Rovers reins.

Stokes, Graham, Jack Byrne, Liam Feeney, Gordon Greer and Stephen Hendrie have all made positive initial impressions.

And Rovers boss Coyle, who is also attempting to sign a left-back on loan from a Premier League club, said: “I’ve tried to work within what I have available.

“We went into play Norwich City at the weekend who were able to play £9m for a player (Alex Pritchard) two days before it.

“We don’t have that luxury so what we have to do is, whatever funds we have available in terms of salary, is source very good players.

“We brought in Graham, Stokes, Byrne, Hendrie, Greer and Feeney and it probably equates to what Steven Fletcher is earning at Sheffield Wednesday.

“We’ve tried to utilise what we have available to the very best of our ability.

“We’ve lost a fantastic player in Grant Hanley but I’m not going to moan. We’ve just got to try and make the best of what we’ve got.

“Everybody has to look at the big picture and understand the more we play together and the more we work together the better we will be moving forward.”

Meanwhile, Rovers’ league match at home to Wolves on Saturday, October 29 will now kick-off at the later time of 5.30pm after being selected for live Sky television coverage.