David Raya admits public criticism from boss Tony Mowbray is all part of the job as the Rovers goalkeeper aims to prove all of his critics wrong.

Raya has started all but two of Rovers’ last 90 league fixtures and is set to continue that run against Stoke City this afternoon.

But the 23-year-old found his position under threat after being criticised by boss Mowbray after a difficult run of form in February and March.

Mowbray has stuck with the Spaniard but could add a new goalkeeper in the summer in a bid to provide more competition for his No.1.

On the criticism from the manager, Raya told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I took it as it being his job to put pressure in to the players.

“I’m just going to try and be better, work harder, as I always do, I always work as hard as possible. I’m going to try and prove people wrong and keep working as hard as I am doing.

“He has said it to me in private, but I just want to work hard and make his mind easier to pick me instead of thinking about going for someone else.”

This week marked four years since Raya made his Rovers debut.

He is five short of 100 league starts for the club and has been No.1 at the club since the departure of Jason Steele in the summer of 2017.

He was named in the League One team of the season in 2017/18 but feels his form has been up and down at times in what is his first full season playing in the Championship.

But Raya believes he will only improve as a goalkeeper because of the experiences of this season in which he has kept nine clean sheets in his 38 league matches.

He added: “Personally, I don’t think it’s been my best season but it’s been my first full season in the Championship.

“Obviously I have made mistakes, but I have learned from them.

“Hopefully I will learn from them and become a better goalie in the end.

“Not with the goals we’ve conceded, but I think it’s been an alrite season.”

His opposite number today will be England goalkeeper Jack Butland who has kept five consecutive clean sheets and not conceded since February 23.

Rovers will have to find a way beyond Butland to secure the three points today, but the Potters have been short of firepower themselves, with each of their last four matches ending 0-0.

On that record, Raya said: “They have been playing well and not conceding a goal in five games is a big positive for them. We have to try and stop that run.

“Not conceding a goal always give you a chance to win the game.

“We’ll be looking for another clean sheet at home, we’ve been good at home, play positively and look to get the points.”