Town's Shaun Whalley has higher ability

Whalley travels to Doncaster tomorrow having scored five goals in his last 11 games for Town.

He's terrorised defences with his pace after boss Mellon finally found a role for him as a third forward.

The 28-year-old winger is in his first League One season after a career spent mostly in non-league, but Mellon reckons the pacy Scouser has the ability to go even higher.

He said: "Every signing you make is a gamble, but you've got to trust yourself to deal with that.

"The things happening to Shaun Whalley now, there's no-one happier than me – apart from him.

"He's worked hard, listened, looked at himself and has moved here, so he's given himself a right good blast at it. But he's got to keep going."

Asked if Whalley could become a Championship player, Mellon said: "It will be up to him.

"Certainly the ability is there, we've seen what he does to people and he's got the pace, but he's got to continue to do it.

"If he can make the sacrifices, dedicate himself to the game, continually try to improve and come in every day with the attitude to get better and comb over the disappointments, he can go where he wants.

"It will be up to him and others but if they show that attitude, they won't have better guys on their side than me and my coaching staff.

"The world is full of guys with potential and promise – I meet a lot of them at the pub, standing next to me at the bar; but you've got to deliver.

"They've all got potential, but it's about making the sacrifices to realise that potential and working hard to get there and making sure you leave no stone unturned.

"I want the fans to have heroes and to look forward to seeing those players here."

Town aim to extend their unbeaten away run to six in all competitions and one defeat in 11 trips going back to Wigan on November 21.

Darren Ferguson's Rovers have slumped to one place above Town and level on points after going eight games without a win.