Reflecting on Saturday’s FA Cup stalemate with QPR, Owen Coyle revealed his delight at the way his side coped with a host of enforced changes in the absence of suspended defenders Steven Caldwell and Stephen Jordan and injured midfield duo Chris McCann and Kevin McDonald.

“With those four players missing we took a lot of height out of the team. If you look at our middle four, another three would have made up the seven dwarves!

"But I thought each and every one of them fought for the cause and I’m absolutely delighted with what they bring to the team,” he said.

“Queens Park Rangers away from home is a difficult game at the best of times but given the injuries and suspensions we had it was a tremendous ask for the players again to play out of position.

“Robbie Blake had to go and play on the left, Wade Elliott, a right winger, has to play in one on the right side of midfield, and I just thought the energy we showed was second to none.

And Coyle gave particular praise to Christian Kalvenes, who had his recovery from a two-month injury lay-off speeded up to replace Jordan at left-back.

“He looked very accomplished and acquitted himself well, and I think it’s fair he’ll have slept well because of being out for two months and having only three days’ training under his belt,” he said.