‘Functional’ Corry Evans might not get the adulation of a Bradley Dack, but he’s just as important to the way Rovers play.

That’s the verdict of Tony Mowbray after the 28-year-old signed a new two-and-a-half year deal.

Evans has become a regular in the Rovers starting XI in 2018 having shaken off the injury troubles which hampered his early years at the club.

Having signed from Hull City in 2013, Evans has made 168 appearances for Rovers, 38 of those coming in this calendar year.

The Northern Ireland saw his previous deal expire next summer, and he joins a host of first team regulars in committing their futures to the club.

“I’m very pleased,” Mowbray said.

“Corry is very instrumental in what we do and how we play.

“He’s intelligent, experienced, the way he reads the game for us is crucially important.

“He’s not the most expansive, he’s a functional footballer who keeps things moving for us. He anticipates and reads the game and is an important cog in our team.

“He has to work extremely hard to stay in our team because the competition, I hope, is only going to get stronger in every position.

“I like Corry, I think he’s instrumental in what we’ve achieved and hopefully he will play a part in future success.”

Evans and Richie Smallwood have become Mowbray’s preferred central midfield pairing.

On whether he receives the credit he deserves, Mowbray added: “Probably not because he’s a functional player.

“He plays in a part of the pitch where there can be a lot of bodies but he has good awareness and anticipation.

“You don’t see Corry hitting wonder passes but he keeps it moving, switches the play and tries to roll the ball in to Bradley’s feet and sometimes you need those workers in your team and Corry does that. He understands his role within the team.”

Evans missed the 15 games Mowbray took charge of in the 2016/17 season, and the boss said: “I remember my Middlesbrough teams playing against him at Hull and I remember he was very good at breaking the play up and moving the ball around.

 “I was looking forward to working with him, but he was unavailable for those first 15 games. I’m delighted that he’s remained fit for the majority of my time here.”