Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray insists Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite will learn from his struggles against Preston North End.

The on-loan Everton defender partnered Darragh Lenihan as Rovers were beaten 1-2 by Preston North End at Ewood Park.

Mowbray told Lancs Live: “I'm sure there were bigger, stronger and tougher centre forwards in League Two than Ched Evans - and he has to get on with his job.

“We like him, he does what it says on the tin most weeks.He had an uncomfortable evening and he has to bounce back and show us what he's done in the other games.

“He's a young boy and I have no fears, I don't sit here worrying about him.

“I was a young, 18-year-old centre half playing in a first-team and having good games, indifferent games, brilliant games, and he's an 18-year-old boy learning his trade and as he goes on he'll go up and down.

“The secret to staying in the Premier League is to keep his performance level high and see if he can find that as his marker - Premier League football."