West Brom boss Tony Mowbray insists Rovers will be “fully focused” on their trip to the Hawthorns despite the managerial situation at Ewood Park.

John Eustace is expected to be announced as Derby County’s new head coach imminently but, as The Lancashire Telegraph went to print, that had not yet happened.

Mowbray, who spent five years in the hot seat at Rovers, says he still has a “lot of affection” for the club.

"I have been back several times, we went with Sunderland and won 3-1 the year before last," he told Express & Star. "The infrastructure is really good, they won the Premier League in 1995 which seems a long time ago - but not in my mind!

"What they achieved then is still there as a legacy, the training centre, Academy just down the hill half-a-mile away, the quality of everything is really good. I still talk to a lot of the people, the lady who was my secretary, they keep in touch. You develop such close working relationships.

"I've got a lot of affection for Blackburn Rovers. I know John Eustace pretty well, we speak pretty regularly. I know he had one or two situations he was trying to deal with and it looks like he is moving club, whether there has been confirmation of that.

"It is an interesting scenario playing Blackburn, potentially without a head coach, but I know the coaching staff behind the scenes, they will come with a very focused team. People like Lewis Travis in the team will have nothing but aggression and intent. They are sixth so it is a big game for both clubs.

"They will think if they don't get a result, we will create a little gap and if they do, it keeps it really tight.

"It is a home game. We have done pretty well at home, we will try to dominate again and play in their half as much as we can."

Mowbray took charge at West Brom last month following a spell away from the sport due to health reasons.

"I worked with a lot of their players,” the 61-year-old added. “Travis and (John) Buckley, (Scott) Wharton has done his cruciate, Hayden Carter, young players were in the under-18s when I got there and now Travis is captain. They are good, focused lads who work really hard.

“I have got no thought they will come anything other than fully focused and trying to win as footballers do. They are professionals and will do the job.

“I have seen them win twice at Middlesbrough this season. Very well structured and well organised, their league position shows the team they are."