Tony Mowbray believes Rovers’ full backs can have a big part to play this season.

Harry Pickering scored his first goal for the club in the 2-2 draw with Luton Town where Ryan Nyambe played a key role in Tyrhys Dolan’s opener.

While Nyambe is still waiting to open his account in Rovers colours, his productivity has improved in the final third having chalked up four assists last season.

Mowbray has used Joe Rankin-Costello, an attacking player when coming through the youth ranks, in the full back positions to help bolster the threat his side can pose and boosted his options in the transfer window with the arrival of Tayo Edun from Lincoln City.

And after seeing Pickering, a £650,000 signing from Crewe Alexandra in January, open his account, Mowbray said: “If you’re going to be a modern day full-back you have to get in the opposition box, you have to score.

“When you’re attacking, who’s going to threaten the opposition? I think that’s the way we have to look at it moving forward. Our full backs have to get in there.

“I showed them Sam Gallagher’s goal against Luton last year when Barry Douglas put in a diagonal before the game.

“Modern day full backs have to be able to defend but have to attack and add a few goals over the course of the season.”

Mowbray is too looking for the goals to be shared about, Pickering the sixth different scorer this season, and despite being without a clean sheet in their last 16 league matches, they have netted in all of their fixtures so far.

Edun, signed for £500,000 from Lincoln City on deadline day, played most of his 64 appearances for the Imps at left back but did operate in central midfield when coming through the ranks at Fulham.

His new boss believes his versatility will come in handy when he overcomes a knee issue which has put back his expected debut, though the 23-year-old could be in contention for the weekend trip to Barnsley.

“He’s not here to replace anyone, he’s here to compete and try and get in the team,” Mowbray said.

“He’s been playing left back for Lincoln but I remember him playing centre mid for Fulham in an Under-23s game.

“Watching a lot of his clips before we signed him, he’s very dynamic in midfield, he’s very competitive, mobile and brings a lot of good attributes.

“I was very conscious of not having a left back cover, but I’m conscious that he’s not in the building as left back cover, he’s here because he’s a good footballer and he’ll compete to get in the team in whatever position.”