Tony Mowbray believes time out of the side has demonstrated the professionalism of Craig Conway.

Mowbray has praised the work ethic of the 33-year-old, and his efforts in training, which earned him a recall in last weekend’s win over Sheffield Wednesday.

His performance, allied by an injury to Elliott Bennett, means Conway is an all but certain starter at Middlesbrough this afternoon.

Conway said he never doubted his ability, despite having started just three league games this season, with Mowbray admitting he found it difficult to find a spot in his attacking ranks for the former Cardiff player.

He explained: “I have judged him through my time here probably more on when he hasn’t played and how professional he is and great he is at getting his head down.

“He does knock on my door sometimes and see what I think, what my mindset is, but he never sulks.

“It’s just been difficult to get him in the team.

“Harrison Reed has come in to the team and shown what a talented individual he is, Bennett when he’s fit generally gets in the starting line-up and Armstrong has excelled on certain days playing out on the left side.

“So it’s been difficult to get him in the team, but when necessity came along and he was required he showed me what I was expecting from him, and more, better than more just an honest, hardworking performance.

“He created, stopped the opposition, played some good balls forward, put crosses in to the box and was a threat.

“I was delighted for him, but he knew himself that was the required level.”

Conway, who netted in the Carabao Cup defeat at Bournemouth in September, scored just twice last season in 28 appearances.

He was among the goals, scoring seven times, in the relegation campaign of 2016/17, but given Mowbray’s preference to go with a ‘wide striker’ on the flanks, he says the Scot must look to improve his final third statistics.

“If there is one thing I constantly said to Craig over the last year it’s been that I need end product, I need shots, crosses and assists,” he added.

“If you are going to play in the front four of the system we’re playing then you need to score goals because it’s no good that just Bradley and Danny score goals. You have to produce.”

Conway’s ability with both feet added an extra dimension to the Rovers attack, as he put several dangerous crosses in to the box, as well as going close to a goal in the second half.

Asked if it was Conway’s best display under his management, Mowbray added: “It won’t be far away.

“He was very influential, very positive, and was full of energy.

“I kept asking him in the second half how he was feeling and he kept saying he was fine.

“I think it’s great when you’re a footballer and you feel full of energy. He didn’t give me any indication that he wanted to come off. So I was delighted for him.”