An exciting cameo off the bench from Southampton loanee Harrison Reed didn’t surprise boss Tony Mowbray who admits: ‘he’s a high quality player’.
But the 23-year-old faces a tough challenge on his hands to displace the combination of Richie Smallwood and Corry Evans which has started Rovers’ last 16 league matches in the middle of the park.
Mowbray has previously discussed how the pair ‘understand the position’ he is asking them to play, something Reed will have to come to terms with.
But he showed his athleticism in an all-action display on his Rovers debut when replacing Smallwood midway through the second half.
Asked for his verdict, Mowbray said: “Harrison Reed is a good player. I’ve seen that in training in the last week or so.
“I still feel as though he needs to understand the position I want him to play.
“At times he’s by the right-hand corner flag putting crosses in but we need him in the middle of the pitch to stop counter-attacks and feed our wide players.
“But he will learn as we go on and he’s a very good footballer which is why he is here.
“I’ve told him out of respect for what Evans and Smallwood have done over the last 18 months, they deserve to play at the moment and he has to try and knock one of them over, or the rotation will get him in the team and then we’ll decide who’s best for each game.
“He’s a high quality player with a fantastic temperament.”
Bradley Dack marked his return to the side after a month out with a knee injury with his fifth goal of the season, and welcoming the 24-year-old back, Mowbray added: “Bradley is a goal threat for us.
“He plays in that position that links our midfield to our strikers and he gets in the box and scores important goals.
“He should have had two goals with the header that was disallowed but I’m delighted for him that he’s back in our team and long may it continue.”
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