Prior to Rovers’ first game after the international break, away at Rochdale on Saturday, Tony Mowbray spoke to the club’s official media team on Thursday regarding Rovers’ team news and injury updates following the break, in addition to praising the fans and discussing what he expected from the opposition.
“I hope we’ve got a bit of momentum after the last couple of results but it can easily be punctured. I think we’ll go into the game with a confidence mood but we’ll play against a very hardworking, honest, committed and talented side and it’ll be very hard to just turn up at Rochdale thinking you’re going to easily turn them over and win. Keith Hill is an experienced manager who knows the league inside-out and he’ll have his team ready, but it’s a game that our supporters will attend in large numbers I’m sure and expect a performance from the players, as will I.
“The large following is ultimately good for us as it applies its own pressure onto the players to perform, even though I hope that the evidence of the last two performances have shown that, if the players can reach that same levels of intensity, they can win football matches in this league and sometimes that intensity needs to be encouraged by the fans. It’s just a case of making the players even more aware of how big the club is and how passionate the fans are, as they want us to make this year a successful one, as do we, however nobody hands you anything on a plate in this league and hopefully if the players and supporters can unite, we can win football matches.
“The Stoke game coupled with the signings on Deadline Day has given me a selection headache, but that’s good. I’d rather have a selection headache than moaning as I was a few weeks ago about being down to the bare bones, but now there’re going to be decisions and some players are going to be disappointed not to make the squad of 18 but that’s ok for me as it intensifies training and it makes sure there’s competition to try and play and get the job done.
“We need to go on a run and get another positive result on Saturday then Tuesday night (away at Scunthorpe) will come really quickly. Three of the next four games are away from home which will be tough games, a couple against northern teams who will make life really difficult for you on their own ground and then at Shrewsbury who have started the season fantastically, but they’re games we have to look forward to.”
In addition to talking about the opposition, the manager discussed his squad following the international break and shed some light in regards to who would be fit in time for the trip to Spotland on Saturday as fans were concerned over the fitness of Rovers’ captain Charlie Mulgrew, who limped off injured whilst playing for Scotland during the break.
“Charlie seemed alright today, he was walking freely. The plan is to give him as much time as we can to see whether he can play at the weekend, if that means training on Friday, that’s great. If that means waiting to see how he feels on Saturday morning, then we’ll do that, but give him every opportunity to be fit, which we’re hopeful of. He’s a big player for us and he’s part of our plans for the future, which was seen by the fact he remained after the closure of the window, but we need him on the pitch as he has shown against MK Dons with his two goals. I’m delighted that the injury isn’t as bad as first feared, but it’ll be touch and go before kick-off. He’s indispensable to the team, whether that being from his set-pieces going forward or his defensive qualities going backwards. It should never be underestimated how important set-pieces are, especially in the lower leagues with a high number of them resulting in goals and that’s one aspect that Charlie brings and his desire to keep clean sheets is crucial. He leads by his actions and his high standards more than by his voice, so hopefully he can be fit for Saturday.”
“Corry (Evans) was fantastic in training today, he’s come back with a spring in his step and he obviously played a key role for Northern Ireland in their victory. Jayson Leutwiler played for Canada against Jamaica. Training overall has been good this week and today was short, sharp and intense with a real energy about the training and hopefully that’s because they’re looking forward to continuing their winning ways.
“Bradley Dack has joined in and trained every day that the group has been training over the break. It’s all about trying to manage Bradley moving forward, whether that means taking him off earlier even if he’s doing well, or starting him on the bench and bringing him on to influence the game and somewhere down the line, we’ll get to a point where he can consistently churn out 90 minutes after 90 minutes as at this moment, with two simultaneous hamstring injuries, we have to manage his minutes on the pitch.
“Derrick (Williams) has been back training all week, (Ryan) Nyambe is still a way off returning to the side as is Scott Wharton. Darragh Lenihan’s news regarding his broken foot is really disappointing. It showed up on a third scan last week and it made the signing of a central defender even more crucial on Deadline Day. I’m disappointed for the lad and the team, but injuries are part and parcel of the game and that’s why teams have a squad of players. We have to wish him a speedy recovery and push forward without him.”
