Ryan Nyambe’s struggles, coupled with Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ qualities, has meant for a change at right back in the last two games, Tony Mowbray revealed.

Mowbray explained the Manchester City youngster is an option moving forward at right back, having made two substitute appearances there in defeats to QPR and Preston, but is primary role is at centre half after arriving on deadline day.

Nyambe has been substituted in both matches, as he was at Stoke City and Huddersfield Town in December, also when Rovers were chasing an equaliser.

Then it was John Buckley who was sent on in his place, and asked about the reasons for his withdrawal, and whether Harwood-Bellis was an option there moving forward, Mowbray said: “He’s a centre half and we shouldn’t forget that, but he’s physical enough, mobile enough, aggressive enough to play at right full back.

“I think the right full back who’s played in the last two games has struggled in the last couple of matches and so I made those changes.

“I don’t think there’s anything of a secret about that.

“Let’s see as we move forward where Taylor goes and what we do with him, and the opportunities he gets.”

Jarrad Branthwaite has started five consecutive games at centre half since his loan move from Everton, but the Preston defeat was by far the most difficult for the 18-year-old.

He struggled against the physicality of Ched Evans, but Mowbray says the teenager’s Premier League quality, as well as his experience of playing in League Two for Carlisle United, will shine through.

He added: “I’m sure there were bigger, stronger and tougher centre forwards in League Two than Ched Evans, and he has to get on with his job.

“We like him, he does what it says on the tin most weeks, he had an uncomfortable evening and he has to bounce back and shows us what he’s done in the other games.

“He’s a young boy and I have no fears, I don’t sit here worrying about him.

“I was a young 18-year-old centre half playing in a first-team and having good games, indifferent games, brilliant games, and he’s an 18-year-old boy learning his trade and as he goes on he’ll go up and down and the secret is to stay in the Premier League is to keep his performance level high and see if he can find that as his marker, Premier League football.”