Were Sam Gallagher to select the Rovers starting XI then he would put himself as the central striker - but Tony Mowbray feels he can still get into double figures for goals, and contribute to the team, from a wider role.

Gallagher equalled his tally of seven goals with his header against Derby County but away games at Barnsley and Wycombe Wanderers apart, he has been utilised from either the left or the right flank.

His equaliser against Derby was just a second goal in 20 starts for Gallagher this season, having proven to be something of an impact substitute, with five of his seven having come when used off the bench.

Alongside his goals, Gallagher has won three penalties and claimed three assists, with Mowbray saying the 25-year-old, a £5m signing from Southampton in 2019, has to aim to reach double figures.

The manager has called for more support to 22-goal top scorer Adam Armstrong, with Gallagher now up to seven, one more than Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott. And Mowbray has long stressed that playing on the outside of a front three isn’t a barrier to goals.

“He has to strive for consistency, he’s been asked to play in a slightly different position to the one he would if he was to pick the team himself,” Mowbray said.

“He would probably put himself as the No.9, right down the middle, centre forward, but we haven’t been playing like that, so he’s had to adapt.

“Rightly or wrongly, everyone will have their opinion, but as I’ve always said to you while I’m the manager I’ll pick the team and this is how we’ve decided to play and you either win or lose.

“It’s not about Sam it’s about the team and trying to have a cohesive group of footballers who can function and win games.

“Sam works hard every game, he has to understand the position he’s playing and get himself into better goalscoring positions to keep his numbers ticking along and to hopefully as one of three strikers get himself into double figures every season and occasionally have a great season when has over 20.

“He understands that, we talk to them all that the strikers have to have the numbers, they have the assists and goals.

“He’s still a relatively young striker and something he has to keep working on.”

Gallagher reached double figures during his 2016/17 loan spell at Rovers, the final 15 games of which Mowbray took charge of in the fight against relegation.

It was in those games that Mowbray utilised Gallagher’s strengths from a wider position, referencing the final day win at Brentford in May 2017 where despite a victory, Rovers dropped into League One.

Mowbray had tried to sign Gallagher on loan in 2018/19, but waited until the following summer to bring him in on a permanent basis. He missed the start of this season with a groin problem, and also three matches earlier this year because of back issue, but has been a regular in the squad.

Asked about his role, Mowbray said: “I never thought of him just as a No.9. I inherited him on loan when I first came to this football club.

“I have generally played him as a wide striker. Brentford away in that last game of that season I remember seting the team up, Mulgrew’s left foot playing balls to Gallagher as a wide striker in a 3-1 win.

“We can win football matches playing the way we’re playing and Sam like every player has to play where he’s selected to play and do the very best he can.”