Tony Mowbray has welcomed the extra expectation on his side after a busy end to the window – having worked hard himself to create that among his squad.

Rovers’ deadline day deals were the eye-catching bits of business in the Championship last week and has added strength in depth to a squad that looks more than capable of launching a bid for promotion.

Three of the signings in this window have experience of winning the Championship - including Barry Douglas who has signed on loan from Leeds United - a quality Mowbray felt was essential to compliment his young group, but knows he will be judged on the increased expectations, even if the new signings take time to get up to speed.

The injury situation at the club could see him needing to use some of his new recruits sooner than he would like, but before then, the squad must find ways to win matches consistently.

“That’s what it’s all about, I understand how it works and how life is. The expectation, I feel as if I’ve tried to create the expectation because I want their mentality to be really strong and we that we have to win football matches,” Mowbray said.

“So you bring some really good footballers in and yet none of them have been playing football at their clubs really so you have to give them a bit of time.

“The team have to find a way to win until they’re ready. The team know that competition all over the pitch is really strong, you can’t expect them to come in and within two days change the whole picture.

“They haven’t been playing, they need to get fit and understand how we function, how we play, what the expectation is, and over the longer period, the next few weeks, I hope we get them all integrated into the team and they all get game-time and feel a part of it and we can start winning football matches.

“That’s the expectation, and as a football coach you’d rather have the expectation than not.

“I’d rather be a favourite rather than someone who has to punch above their weight.

“I’m not saying we’re not a big boy in this league with huge finance like the parachute payments but we have been well supported and feel we’ve got a decent squad and we now have to take it onto the grass and make sure we have a good season.”

Left back Douglas won the Championship with Leeds last season, having done the same with Wolves in 2018, while midfielder Tom Trybull did the same with Norwich in 2019.

Central defender Daniel Ayala, who has started the last two matches, also has experience of promotion with Middlesbrough in 2016.

Bradley Johnson, signed last summer, also has experience of being at the top end of the table with Derby County, and Mowbray feels those experiences will be vital as the season goes on.

“People who know what it takes to win games, win leagues, and to be at the top end of a table and try and get promotion” he added.

“There’s a mentality attached to it.

“Sometimes young footballers just enjoy being around the team and playing, but players who’ve been through campaigns where they’ve ended up in the top six, or first and second, they know the pressures of winning every week and I think it’s really important.”

The Rovers boss added: “It’s like trying to bring some experience around young enthusiasm, that can look great some time but the experience of winning and what it takes to win, the mentality you have to have for tough away games, and those tight home games to keep clean sheets.

“It’s about getting the balance right.”