ROVERS boss Tony Mowbray believes Marvin Emnes can be an Ewood match-winner having worked with the striker during his time in charge of Middlesbrough.

The Dutchman hit 18 goals for the Teessiders in the 2011-12 season under Mowbray’s guidance and the new Rovers head coach believes he can replicate that at form at Rovers.

Mowbray said: “I think he can score goals. I think he can make the difference. I think you’ve got to love Marvin, you’ve got to put your arm around him and make him feel special and make him feel good.

“When I first got there, he was out of the picture at Middlesbrough. He went to Swansea and he scored a winning goal against Cardiff, which made the Swansea fans love him and that’s where he eventually ended up.

“But we had good times with Marvin. He’s a nice kid. He’s not gregarious, he doesn’t put himself out there much, he’s quite introvert, but he is a very talented boy.”

And Mowbray, speaking to Rovers’ website, believes Emnes is not the only match winner in the Ewood squad.

He added: “Watching training, he’s not the only of that type of footballer. There’s three or four similar types to Marvin who were trying to show the new guy on the side what a talent they are and I was impressed with the tightness of their play in the final third and hopefully that can transmit to the big pitch on matchday.”