Tony Mowbray says there are no guaranteed places in the Rovers team as he balances the frustration of some players on the fringes of his starting line-up.

Paul Downing and Craig Conway were rewarded for their displays on rare starts against Sheffield Wednesday to keep their places for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Darragh Lenihan and Amari’i Bell have been regular starters this season but were left on the bench at the Riverside despite returning from injury.

The likes of Joe Rothwell, Kasey Palmer and Ben Brereton will be itching to break in to the first team squad, and Mowbray knows he faces a balancing act of giving everyone an opportunity.

“No-one should be able to walk in this team, it’s about the competition and the players are at it,” he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“I know there’s some frustration and some disappointment in some of them but they have to rise the challenge, and yes they can be frustrated, but not show it so it doesn’t come over in training.

“Then when they come on in games they have to make an impact and make my decisions even tougher.

“And it’s not bad when you’ve got a squad of players who you feel can put on the pitch and make the difference in a game.”