Tony Mowbray has stressed his desire to strengthen Rovers’ defensive options this summer which have been blighted by injury problems since he took charge.

The Rovers boss marks 100 league games in charge of the club at Aston Villa this weekend where Darragh Lenihan, Charlie Mulgrew, Jack Rodwell and Amari’i Bell are all set to return.

Lenihan and Mulgrew would be seen as Mowbray’s first choice pairing, but in his 99 league games so far, the duo have played together on just 40 occasions.

Not since the FA Cup tie at Newcastle United on January 5 have Lenihan and Mulgrew been available at the same time, and only 18 times this season have they played alongside each other.

With Rodwell having started just 14 times due to injury struggles of his own, Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I’ve talked about it for a few weeks now. It’s an area of the pitch that we have to strengthen.

“When I say strengthen I mean add competition.

“Ultimately it doesn’t matter to me who plays in the team, the team has to win, and when you win you stay in the team. I’ve said that to them all.

“They have both had periods out.

“It’s not a defensive partnership that has been together for a couple of years and has played together every week.

“I talk about the depth. Jack Rodwell’s a midfield player who we’ve converted into a centre half and when he’s played I think he’s done extremely well and is very focussed on his job.

“He wants to do well and has been an international footballer.

“But in my opinion we need a type. When I say type, I look at Darragh Lenihan as a type of centre half as opposed to Charlie Mulgrew who is a different type of centre half.

“One is a ball playing centre half who build from the back, who is deadly from set plays and corner kicks, Lenihan is aggressive, wants to win the first header, deal with the ball and deal with the danger.

“When he was missing, that was something that lacking in the team.          

“We want to create competition in our team with what you might called stereotypical old-fashioned defenders who want to head the ball, defend and be the main man at the back.”

Charlton defender Patrick Bauer was a player Mowbray tried to bring in last summer, with Rovers continuing the monitor the 25-year-old who is nearing the end of his current contract.

The German defender is understood to be one of a clutch of defenders in League One who Rovers are keeping tabs on, while the search for defensive recruits could also see them dip in to the European market.

Paul Downing, currently on loan at League One side Doncaster, is out of contract, while the long-term future of Rodwell is no closer to being agreed as his one-year deal expires this summer.

On Bauer, Charlton boss Lee Bowyer said: “Pat Bauer made it clear last summer that he won’t sign another contract.

“I think the only chance we have of him staying here is if we get promoted.

“He has been excellent for us and his performances have been outstanding, but we can’t control it.”

Rovers have three central defenders, in Scott Wharton, Matty Platt and Joe Grayson out on loan, while Derrick Williams has played the last two matches in the heart of the defence.

Under-23s captain Tyler Magloire has started the last two games, but won’t travel to Aston Villa this weekend as Rovers welcome back their more senior options for the Villa Park trip.