Sammie Szmodics’ signing will give Jon Dahl Tomasson just the attacking flexibility he desires

Tomasson went with a fluid front four for the opening day win over QPR having done so for the final three friendlies.

It is the system that Tomasson favoured during his time at Malmo, however the head coach has outlined how he won’t be rigid to one formation.

Gregg Broughton’s comments after the signing of the 26-year-old suggested that he would likely operate in a central role, one in which Ryan Hedges played against QPR.

Hedges had played much of his football for Rovers, and in pre-season, from the right, while Sam Gallagher and Ben Brereton were given room to move against QPR.

Brereton touched the ball more than 50 times on the opening day, having averaged 31 during the final six games of last season, with Tomasson keen to see his wide players get more involved in the play.

Szmodics has shown an eye for goal, with 16 in the League One 2020/21 season as well as seven last term.

But it is his athleticism too, as well as his ability to play in a number of roles, that will be most pleasing for Tomasson.

Rovers were one attacking option down from last season after Reda Khadra returned to parent club Brighton.

The possibility of another addition in that area could well come down to the future of Brereton.

Of how he wants his attackers to play, Tomasson explained: “There’s movement of the front four players within the structure.

“The Celtic game, the first goal we scored, that was also the flexibility of the attacking position so I don’t want players to play in their positions up front.

“I think we should be flexible in our formation.

“I like my principles, you saw that sometimes (against QPR).

“Flexibility, you need that in modern football, system wise, but you always need those type of players to be flexible in that way.

“You can of course develop them but that takes a little bit more time.”