Tony Mowbray says Derrick Williams will be given an opportunity to stake a claim in his preferred central defensive spot.

Williams revealed in an interview with the Lancashire Telegraph that he wanted to be considered as a central defender, rather than left back where he played much of his football under the manager.

And while Mowbray says the Republic of Ireland international would play left back if instructed, the arrival of Greg Cunningham and departure of Charlie Mulgrew will more likely see him compete with Darragh Lenihan and Tosin Adarabioyo for a place in the side.

Mowbray will hope to have at least one of Lenihan and Adarabioyo fit for today’s visit of Middlesbrough, with Williams himself only playing his first match of the season at Fulham last weekend after a calf problem ruled him out of the pre-season friendlies.

The boss also hasn’t ruled out going with a back three at some stage this season, and revealed: “We did that at the end of last season, I had those conversations with Derrick.

“Left-sided centre half is probably the position for him.

“If you picture him as a centre half running up and down, up and down, he found that really tough.

“In his mind he’s a central defender who would like to be more positionally static, do his job and fill that part of the pitch.

“When you’re playing as a full back you have to run up and down 80 yards, aerobically he could do it, but it wasn’t natural. To some players it’s natural, but Derrick found that testing for 90 minutes.

“This position allows him to focus on his job. I think he’s got a positive attitude, is good enough with his left foot to pick passes, he can spring and win headers, he’s got a good voice on him which can bring leadership qualities.

“I like Derrick. He’ll be given an opportunity to see how he gets on in that position. He brings mobility and recovery speed.

“It’s down to him. If we’re going to play a back four then of the senior players we’ve got Darragh, Tosin and Derrick.”

Rovers have allowed Scott Wharton and Tyler Magloire, as well as Mulgrew, to leave on loan, but the boss remains happy with his options.

“We’re doing okay, Ryan Nyambe played centre half in the Africa Cup of Nations and did well in the games I watched him, so we’ve got options,” he added.

“What we don’t need is all three injured at the same time which is what happened for a spell last season.

“We’ve then got (Joe) Grayson who can come in. We feel he’s got a wand of a left foot, hit Mulgrew-esque 60 or 70-yarders across the pitch.”

Williams was Rovers’ player of the year in the relegation season of 2016/17 before being a never ever-present in the promotion-winning campaign 12 months later.

Injuries restricted him to just 26 starts last term, but 10 of those came in the final 11 matches, keeping captain Mulgrew out of the team as he partnered fellow Irishman Lenihan.

“If I pick Derrick at left back then he’ll play left back and he will get on with it,” Mowbray said.

“But what he’s saying is that in his mind that’s what he’s thinking and wants to be considered to be and compete with Tosin and Darragh.

“Let’s see if he can get in the team week in, week out. There’s no guarantees, he has to perform.

“There are things he needs to work on, opening his body up more when the ball is on the other side, does he know where the ball and striker is?

“I can see all his qualities, his mobility, positive nature and ability to pick the right pass from central areas.

“He’s started on a good footing and finished last season on a good footing I’d suggest, playing all those games when we won four and drew one of the last six.

“He just has to compete with the other centre halves to try and get in the team every week.”