Dickov sure dominant Bywater’s voice will be heard to good effect for Rovers

The 33-year-old will join initially for the rest of the season after parting company with Millwall earlier this week.

Bywater, who played 14 times in an autumnal loan spell at Gillingham, trained with Rovers yesterday.

Manager Paul Dickov – who briefly played with Bywater at Derby County – is confident he will bring considerable experience and an authoritative voice to Rovers’ ranks.

Dickov, who saw Sam Johnstone head to Preston North End on Monday, with reserve goalkeeper Marko Marosi handed a debut in the FA Cup defeat at Bristol City, said: “Stephen is a goalkeeper who has got vast experience and is a character.

“He is very loud, but a very good goalkeeper as well – and we are delighted to have him.

“He has played the majority of his games in his career higher up and he has been promoted out of this division, so he knows what the league is all about and what it takes.

“His experience, along with Andy Butler’s, at the back will help the younger kids around him as he’s very vocal, dominant and positive in his outcome.”

Dickov says that Abdul Razak’s move to the club is close, with the midfielder having verbally told the Rovers manager that he will sign, despite some interest from elsewhere, including the Championship.