OWEN Coyle has revealed Marvin Emnes played through sickness to inspire Blackburn Rovers’ second successive Championship win – and stated the form of his new strikers will bring out the best in fit-again duo Danny Graham and Anthony Stokes.

Emnes made it three goals in as many league matches before setting up Sam Gallagher’s replacement Graham to seal the 2-1 triumph at Derby County.

But Rovers boss Coyle said: “Marvin was ill at five in the morning on the day of the game. The doc had to go and see him.

“Even in the warm-up he had to step out for the doc to give him some medicine to try and get his stomach settled in order to play.

“But he went out there and you would never have known and the great thing is I still think there’s more to come from him.

“Sam Gallagher was outstanding again. He ran his race and then Danny stepped in and looked terrific. That’s what we need; that competition for places up there.

“I think the performance of Sam and Marvin the week before against Rotherham United probably helped Danny. He must have looked at it and thought, ‘I’ve got a real fight on here’. Anthony Stokes is the same.

“I’ve been there myself as a striker. Subconsciously you can think, ‘I’m playing anyway’, but when you have competition that’s when you see the best from players.”

Stokes has now recovered from the knee injury which has ruled him out of the last five matches.

And he will play for Rovers Under-23s in their Premier League 2 encounter with Wolves at the County Ground, Leyland tonight (7pm kick-off).

Therefore he will play no part in tomorrow’s Championship clash at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

Coyle has no fresh injury concerns for the visit of the Owls.