Leo Wahlstedt is a “calming influence” between the sticks, according to Rovers team-mate Dom Hyam.

The Swedish goalkeeper, who arrived at Ewood Park over the summer following Thomas Kaminski’s move to Luton, was thrown in at the deep end after an injury to Aynsley Pears.

Wahlstedt made a couple of important stops in the 1-0 defeat against Swansea at the weekend and was unfortunate to be on the losing side.

Hyam, who is facing a spell out of action after picking up an ankle injury against Millwall last week, admits playing with a new goalkeeper can be challenging at first but has been impressed by the 24-year-old.

Speaking prior to his injury, the defender told The Lancashire Telegraph: “You have got no option other than to embrace it.

“He is a new player, he doesn’t know us and we don’t know him. Obviously, we are getting to know him in training for the month or two he has been here.

“He is a great lad, he is a calming influence as well. He never looks flustered. Playing out from the back is second nature to him.

“In the 85th minute (against Cardiff), he has made a worldie and kept our clean sheet. He has done well so far and hopefully he can continue that.”

Prior to his injury, Hyam had been playing alongside Bournemouth loanee James Hill in the Rovers backline.

The England Under-21 defender has already made seven appearances since his arrival in East Lancashire, featuring in the right-back role recently.

“He is versatile so he can play in a few different positions,” Hyam explained. “He has done well so far and, if and when called upon, I am sure he would look just as comfortable at centre-half.

“I think he has got a big future ahead of him being only 21 and we are glad to have him.

“There are many things that go into picking a team. I’m not the manager and I don’t pick it, but someone like James Hill has got a lot of different attributes to others and when we had lost a few games in a row, it is good to count on a player like him.”

Despite coming up short against the Swans at the weekend, Rovers’ recent defensive numbers still make for positive reading.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men have conceded three times in their last five games – a stark contrast to the previous five league fixtures when they let in 15 goals.

 “I think we have had to be a bit honest with ourselves really.” Hyam added. “We have always played fluid football from back to front and scored a few goals, but admittedly letting in too many and being too easy to score against.

“Maybe as defenders we’ve had a bit more concentration and less ball watching in case things happen. We have looked at little things like that.”