ROVERS are eyeing more business in the January transfer window with an attacking player and left-back high on their priority list.

And with injuries in central midfield, and Richie Smallwood one booking away from a two-match ban, boss Tony Mowbray could also strengthen in that area.

Rovers brought in Adam Armstrong on loan from Newcastle United this week, while Paul Downing’s loan move from MK Dons has been made permanent.

And Mowbray, who believes 20-year-old Armstrong can provide a spark in the final third, is still keen on a replacement for injured Middlesbrough winger Harry Chapman.

“We’re looking, we have enquiries in at a few clubs,” Mowbray said of his transfer pursuits. “I think Adam can do what Chapman can do to be honest but we’re still looking for other footballers with a bit of something different and some creativity.

“For me it’s about having options. Some days we can play the Bennetts and the Conways and on others a Chapman and an Armstrong depending on the opposition and how you see the game going. It’s about having as many good players covering as many areas of the pitch.

“Adam can play right down the middle, just underneath, off the left, off the right but what I do know is that he wants to score goals.

“He travels with the ball, beats men, creates his own chances and for others.

“I will let the fans make their own minds up as we go along but sometimes it does take a new player a bit of time to get used to the new surroundings and new dressing room but hopefully he hits the ground running.”

Fleetwood Town left-back Amari’i Bell remains on Rovers’ radar as Mowbray looks to add competition at left-back.

Rovers have tabled a bid for the 23-year-old who looks set to leave Highbury this month, though the Cod Army will hold out for as high a fee as possible.

But Mowbray is remaining patient in his pursuit of new players, adding: “I think we’re down the road with lots of players but I haven’t got any answers.

“We’re in conversations with three or four different clubs about three or four different players at the moment and as I’ve said, who knows where they go?

“Sometimes they hit a brick wall and we walk away and other times you have to give a bit more there and take a bit off that get to deals that suit all parties concerned.”

Rovers face something of a balancing act in the middle of the park for the visit of Shrewsbury Town this weekend.

Corry Evans (thigh) and Peter Whittingham (calf) are both out injured, while Smallwood, an ever present in the league this season, is one booking away from a two-match ban.

Mowbray admits a Smallwood suspension could force him into the transfer market, with former Rover Jason Lowe an option on loan from Birmingham City, but the boss is eager not to become overloaded in one area.

He said: “We’re conscious that Smallwood is on nine bookings so it’s an area where you know if you make a signing then three weeks down the line you could have six players for the same position.

“If and when this 10th booking comes then he will miss two games.

“Hopefully it’s not this weekend and if it this weekend then I think we need to get some business done.

“It’s one of those situations that we’ll deal with and try and get good results as we go along.

“We are trying to strengthen this group and hopefully we’ll be stronger by the end of the window than we were at the start of it.”