Corry Evans believes Tony Mowbray is the best man to lead Rovers forward after following his manager in committing his future to the club.

Evans became the latest player to sign a new long-term deal at Ewood Park, believing in the project that Mowbray is undertaking at the club.

The club’s longest-serving player, having joined in 2013, believes this current crop of players can go one better than the class of 2013/14 who finished two points shy of the top six.

And having penned a deal through to 2021, the Northern Ireland international says boss Mowbray, who signed his own contract extension last month, is key to everything.

He said: “The manager has signed a new deal, he’s committed himself to the club and that’s a big thing for us as players.

“We know he’s going to be in charge for those years and the club has backed him.

“We all believe in where we want to go, what we want to do, and we’re all pushing in the same direction to make that happen.

“When I first signed we had a pretty strong team and we just missed out in the play-offs then.

“I don’t see any reason why this team can’t go on further and actually get in to the play-offs and really have a go at promotion.

“You see the talent week in week out, we have got a lot of young players with a lot of potential.

“I think the manager is the right manager to unleash that potential within the players we’ve got.”

Evans’ previous deal was due to expire next summer, and follows Charlie Mulgrew and Elliott Bennett in signing contract extensions.

He has 168 appearances in all for the club, including 38 in 2018 where he has become a firm fixture in the middle of the Rovers midfield.

The 28-year-old feels the club is on an upward trajectory and was quick to extend his stay in East Lancashire.

“It was an easy decision, especially the way the team has progressed in the last 18 months or so,” he added.

“It doesn’t feel that long ago. It’s flown by.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here and coming in to work every day.

“It’s a good place to play your football.

“I’m delighted to sign and looking forward to many future years.”

Evans missed all 15 of the matches in which Mowbray took charge of in the final months of the 2016/17 season as Rovers were relegated to League One.

At the time he was struggling to overcome a niggling groin injury for which he underwent surgery on.

Having regained his fitness, he went on to play 36 times for Rovers as they were promoted back to the Championship, and has featured in 18 of their 21 league fixtures so far.

Evans, who passed 50 caps for his country last month feels he is now at the peak of his fitness and playing injury free.

He added: “I had a sticky period a couple of years ago where I just couldn’t seem to get fit.

“I was playing with injuries and that wasn’t doing myself or the team any good.

“That is the type of player I am, always trying to get on the pitch no matter what.

“I’m feeling good, the best I’ve felt for a while and hopefully that can continue.

“Hopefully we can have a really good Christmas period and see where we’re at in the New Year and try and push on.”