Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer is pleased with the way his new-look strikers are playing, particularly after losing Rudy Gestede and Josh King in the summer.

Bowyer was also without the injured Jordan Rhodes for Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Cardiff City at Ewood Park but was impressed with loanees Nathan Delfouneso and Modou Barrow.

Gestede scored for Aston Villa in their opening-day victory at Bournemouth while King has started both the Cherries’ Premier League matches so far this term.

Rovers battled to a draw against Cardiff despite conceding an early goal when a mistake by teenage goalkeeper David Raya allowed Joe Mason to break the deadlock.

Bowyer’s side refused to give up though and grabbed a late equaliser when captain Grant Hanley volleyed home Craig Conway’s excellent cross.

Bowyer said afterwards: “I think we had £20million worth of talent missing up front with Jordan Rhodes being out, the sale of Rudy Gestede, who’s started magnificently at Aston Villa, and Josh King, who I thought performed well for Bournemouth at Liverpool.

“Under the rules of the transfer embargo, we’re only allowed to do loans and frees, and I think the ones that we’ve brought in have had a right good go.

“Nathan Delfouneso and Modou Barrow were terrific and Fode Koita unfortunately got a bit of a knock on his knee, but the performance that we put in was terrific in response to giving them a silly goal.”

Blackburn’s next Championship game is against Brighton on Saturday and they are 4.00 to win the clash, while a victory for Chris Hughton’s team is 2.05 and the draw 3.25.