TONY Mowbray is confident Adam Armstrong will prove a hit at Rovers, but said will be utilised in a number of different positions.

Armstrong made his Rovers debut as a second half substitute in the win over Shrewsbury Town after his sealing a loan move from Newcastle United four days earlier.

He was utilised on the left side of an attacking three behind Danny Graham, but his versatility could see him used as a central striker, in the number 10 role or operating from the right.

Mowbray knows Armstrong’s qualities after their time together at Coventry City in 2015/16 and is looking forward to seeing him impact games in the future.

“He’ll do well for us I know that but we will pick and choose his position,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“We went with him on the left but he can play centre forward, number 10 or from the right and we’ll try and utilise him in the right areas.

“Depending on the team we’re playing against, just the speed and directness of Armstrong running with the ball or without it, he can really hurt teams.”

Rovers were without six first-team players through injury, with midfielder Corry Evans the nearest to a return having picked up a thigh injury earlier in the month.

But the Ewood boss admits the players currently sidelined still have a big part to play and was happy to see them joining in with the celebrations after last weekend’s win moved them within two points of the automatic promotion places.

And Mowbray wants his squad to maintain that team spirit, even with the additions of new players.

He added: “In the dressing room, the injured players are in there and they’re all part of it.

“If we add some players the test for the group is when they’re not playing and left out of the 18, when they don’t get off the bench they have to celebrate and be a part of it because next week it might be them.

“We’re trying to strengthen this window, not to replace anyone but to help us get through and we have to pick the right team if we can, whether it’s a technical or physical team, we have to have a team to deal with the challenges that are coming up.”

Charlie Mulgrew scored his fourth penalty of the season in the win, but opted for a different corner to usual as he sent Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Dean Henderson the wrong way.

Mowbray added: “The penalty situation was very interesting because we spoke in the week about whether he would put it in the same place.”

“It’s so regular now, everyone knows where he’s going and we even discussed about passing the penalties over because people know where’s going.

“He decided to have a stutter in his run-up, the ‘keeper went really early and he put it in the other corner so it’s great to add to that string to his bow that he can go both sides.

“I’m delighted that it ended up in the back of the net and helped us to the victory.”