ROVERS boss Tony Mowbray believes the strength of his squad isn't purely down to the numbers at his disposal.

The arrivals of Adam Armstrong, Jack Payne and Amari'i Bell this month have boosted his options, as well as increasing the competition for places, but a better understanding of what it takes to win matches at this level, and a strong team spirit, are increasingly important to the Rovers boss.

Rovers have gone 16 league games unbeaten to move into the top two as they look for an immediate return to the Championship.

And Mowbray is pleased with how things are shaping up ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Northampton.

“Not just in numbers or personnel but also an understanding of what it takes to win football matches, the camaraderie in the group” Mowbray said of the strength of his squad.

“There was an uncertainty at the start of the season of whether this was the right environment for them to play their football, for reasons like having families and being able to earn money in the league up but as we’ve talked many times before I’ve said that if you played a part in us finding ourselves in League One and I felt you were good enough you should stay to help us get out of League One and back in to the Championship.

“Moving forward hopefully they can play in the Championship with us again.

“The strength of character, the team spirit and the camaraderie is so much stronger than it was at the start of the season when there were a few doubts and uncertainties about whether they would still be here at the end of the summer window.

“At this moment I’m happy with the group, they’re working extremely hard to try and get in to the starting XI.”

While excited by the new additions to his squad, Mowbray insists his new recruits may have to be patient in waiting for their opportunities from the start.

He added: “In an ideal world it’s the same when a centre half gets sent off or injured and you turn around and there’s a guy just as good sitting on the bench.

“That’s why I keep saying the more good players we have the better chance you have of winning football matches.

“It’s trying to build it bit by bit.

“I look at my board and feel as if we have some more options where a week or two it seemed to be a bench of kids behind.

“The three additions have changed that and they are champing at the bit to get a start and I think hopefully there’s an understanding that the team are in a good vein of form and it can be difficult to throw new faces in to the team.

“I would prefer them to watch, listen to the messages in training, get to know the environment they are working in and feel how we have achieved what we have before we actually throw them in to start games.

“That can be over the next few weeks but hopefully the competition for places remains really strong and it reflects in the performances and results of the team.”