Jon Dahl Tomasson has revealed Arnor Sigurdsson’s half-time substitution against Ipswich Town was pre-planned.

The Icelandic international was handed a surprise debut at Portman Road, in what was his first competitive appearance for the club. After two months on the sidelines with a groin injury, this was the Tomasson’s first opportunity to use the forward in the Championship.

Sigurdsson justified his selection by scoring his first goal for the club. He showed great composure inside the box to slot the ball past the Ipswich goalkeeper after a great Rovers attack.

That level of calmness in front of goal has been sorely missed, with Rovers guilty of spurning big opportunities this season. However, he was taken off at the break as part of a double change, something Tomasson had planned regardless of the result.

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“It was to keep players fresh, we started Arnor and it’s still early days for him,” Tomasson told The Lancashire Telegraph. “He is still coming back.
“It was planned that he shouldn’t play too much today. We didn’t want to risk it.

“Starting him was probably a little earlier actually. He would’ve gone off regardless, yes.”

Tomasson was delighted with Sigurdsson’s impact on the side and felt the gamble was worth taking by starting him. Rovers will continue to be careful with his rehabilitation but Tomasson wanted to include him for his goal threat.

“We know he can score goals, he showed that today,” he added. That’s one of the things we have been missing in the last couple of weeks, or months should I say. He did that.

“He has been missing for a long time so he needs to get up to speed. We know he needs games as well.”

Sigurdsson could be involved against Cardiff City on Wednesday night as he looks to further build his fitness.