Steve Kean says it is important for Blackburn Rovers that there is now competition for places in the starting line-up.
The Ewood Park outfit made some signings late in the transfer window - bringing in Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Scott Dann and Simon Vukcevic - and have got some injured players fit again and Kean says it makes for a more interesting selection process than he had at the beginning of the season.
"I think when you look at the squad, I've always said we'd like to have a competitive squad with two players in every position and we've certainly got that now," he told the Lancashire Telegraph ahead of Sunday's clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
"It was difficult at the start of the season because we had to play Steven N'Zonzi as a centre-half and Ryan Nelsen wasn't 100 per cent fit, but Ryan being Ryan put himself up to play.
"Now we've got Scott, we've managed to keeper Chris Samba, Ryan's had a little bit of a rest on his knee and Gael Givet's back playing as good as ever. So I think at the back we've got a solid unit.
"We've managed to add Yakubu, together with (David) Goodwillie earlier on in the window, so we've got different types - Jason Roberts, (Mauro) Formica, Goodwillie, there's different permutations.
"Then we've got Vukcevic and (Radosav) Petrovic and once they settle, which I think they will do pretty quick, they've got great quality to add to your Pedersens, Rochinas and Hoiletts.
"We've got great young ones coming through and a good stable senior group."
