GARY Bowyer believes Chris Brown will not look back now he has his belated Blackburn Rovers full debut under his belt.

But there is speculation another Rovers striker could be on his way out of the club in the transfer window.

It is understood that Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday are interested in signing Luke Varney from their Championship rivals this month.

Varney came off the bench for the 12th time this season in Saturday’s FA Cup win at his former club Charlton Athletic.

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But fellow summer signing Brown made his first start for Rovers after overcoming the serious knee injury he sustained in pre-season.

The targetman capped an encouraging display by setting up two-goal hero Chris Taylor’s 59th-minute winner.

Rovers boss Bowyer was thrilled by Brown’s performance and feels the fact that he came through 90 minutes for the first time since May will do wonders for his confidence and belief.

“Browny was a handful all game,” said Bowyer.

“He gave their two centre-halves a tough time and I think you saw what he’s going to bring to the squad.

“He’s had a couple of false starts but he should take a lot of confidence and belief from the game.

“He’s really up and running now and we’re excited by that.”

Varney is out of contract in the summer after penning a one-year deal following his release from Leeds United.

He played and enjoyed success under Millwall manager Ian Holloway at Blackpool and counts Wednesday as another of his old clubs.

Holloway is believed to be only interested in a loan move for Varney.

Another Rovers player attracting admiring glances is young midfielder John O’Sullivan.

It is understood that League One strugglers Barnsley want to sign the 21-year-old on a permanent deal after he impressed on loan in League Two with Accrington Stanley.

O’Sullivan, who has yet to make his full debut for Rovers, was an unused substitute in Saturday’s FA Cup triumph.

Bowyer was missing seven first-team regulars for the Valley clash.

And yesterday he gave his depleted squad a day off in an attempt to try and finally get rid of the bug that has laid low players and staff over the festive period.

“Grant Hanley has tonsillitis, Josh King is still ill, Markus Olsson, Jason Lowe and Tommy Spurr are injured, Corry Evans was suspended and Alex Baptiste was unavailable, so it really was a case of who’s available,” said Bowyer, whose side welcome Wolves to Ewood Park on Sunday (2pm kick-off).

“We’ll be shutting the training ground to get rid of all the illness.

“Hopefully that will clear it all up and then we’ll be able to get back to work for the Wolves game.”

Rovers will go into that match on the back of a comfortable victory over Charlton.

And it was a victory that Bowyer dedicated to the 1,038 travelling supporters who made the trip to the capital.

He said: “To have over a 1,000 fans straight after Christmas was brilliant.

“So the victory was for all the supporters.

“I think we put in a similar performance at Bolton and didn’t get the rewards but on Saturday we got the rewards.”