GARY Bowyer feels he now has expertise in all areas of the field in his first-team coaching staff after predicting that Craig Short will be one of Blackburn Rovers’ best signings this summer.

After six years in the centre of defence at Ewood Park, Short has returned to Rovers as first-team coach to work alongside Bowyer, assistant manager Terry McPhillips, fellow coach Tony Grant and goalkeeping specialist John Keeley.

Short previously managed Ferencvaros in Hungary and League One side Notts County, where he was sacked after only four months in charge.

And Bowyer believes the former defender can play a pivatol role at Ewood Park.

Bowyer said: “It could be one of the best signings that we make.

“He’s a top bloke, he’s already got a presence and he’s only been here a day.

“He’ll be great for the younger lads for the likes of Grant Hanley and the other defenders, for him to pass on his experience.

“He’s managed abroad, he’s managed in England at Notts County and in my opinion didn’t get treated properly.

“But that’s football and Craig knows that. He’s still a top bloke after that experience and doesn’t bear any grudges against Notts County at all.

“It was important that I got him in and I knew I wanted to bring him in.

“He could be invaluable to us this year.”

And Bowyer says the fact that his four coaching staff spent their careers playing as a goalkeeper, a defender, a midfielder and a striker will be of real benefit to Rovers.

His backroom staff is now virtually complete.

“That’s us done now, with possibly one more in the scouting department,” he said.

“The four of us will be on the training ground and I’ve got great back-up from them.

“I’ve got Shorty who was a defender, Granty was a top midfielder at Everton and Manchester City and Terry McPhillips was someone who was a striker and scored loads of goals.

“He never passes the ball in the staff games so I can see how he scored loads of goals one particular season at Halifax. He knows about forwards.

“We’ve got John Keeley who works the goalkeepers tremendously hard and you’ve seen the improvement in Jake Kean last season and Greg (Sandomierski) when he came in as well.

“So I feel strongly that we’re covered in all areas.”

Rovers get their pre-season campaign underway on Saturday, July 6, when they travel to Wales to face Wrexham.