BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer believes Craig Conway is already getting back to his best after giving the influential winger a ‘little breather’.

Conway has been a revelation since arriving at Ewood Park in a knockdown £100,000 move from Cardiff City on the final day of the January transfer window.

The Scotland international has made 15 goals and scored a further four in his 26 Championship appearances for the club.

But, after drop in the high standards he has set himself, he was named among the substitutes for last weekend’s 1-0 win at Fulham after a run of 23 consecutive league starts.

Conway was brought on earlier than expected after Lee Williamson was the victim of a horror challenge.

And, shrugging aside the initial disappointment he felt, he responded by producing a vibrant performance off the bench that could lead to him being handed an instant recall for today’s home game against Watford (3pm).

“I thought Craig Conway in the second half looked like he had benefited from that little breather that he had been given,” said Bowyer, who must decide whether Williamson and fellow midfielder Tom Cairney are fit to play after they came off injured at Craven Cottage.

“That’s all it was with him.

“If you look at the games that we had in the lead up to Fulham game, the lads put in a lot of effort, particularly in the second half against Derby.

“We knew that would take its toll a little bit and that’s why we decided to freshen it up a little with one or two, with one being Craig.

“He’s been outstanding since he joined the club and I thought it looked like he was back to that form.

“He looked really good and played a massive part in the goal.”

Conway’s cross eventually found its way to Jordan Rhodes who, with customary coolness, stabbed in his fourth goal of the campaign.

That moved him level at the top of the Rovers scoring charts with strike-partner Rudy Gestede.

Rhodes (25) and Gestede (13) shared 38 goals last season and, having already notched eight between them in the opening eight games of this term, they look set to beat that tally.

Bowyer is delighted by the form his frontmen are showing in front of goal.

But he has reminded the duo that they have just a big role to play in helping make Rovers, whose clean sheet at Fulham was their first in 12 matches, a tougher proposition to break down.

Bowyer said: “They have started to form a formidable partnership.

“Both have got four goals already and from that point of view they are very important to us.

“But it’s not just about them being a goal threat.

“I’ve spoken to them both about their work ethic off the ball and defending – as it starts from them at the front.

“They’re more than just a goal threat.”