Rovers may only be a minuscule way through their first second-tier odyssey in half-a-century, but have already faced a clutch of hitmen who have seven-figure price tags on their backs – namely Rob Hulse, Nathan Ellington, Freddy Eastwood and Leon McKenzie.

And with the likes of Kevin Phillips, Cameron Jerome, Nicky Maynard, Billy Sharp and Darius Henderson to come before the end of September, it underlines the vast striking armoury on show in the Championship.

Rovers have not got big-price hitmen, but have certainly covered their bases with summer arrival Darren Byfield, Jason Price, James Hayter, Paul Heffernan, Lewis Guy, Gareth Taylor, Tomi Ameobi and Stuart Elliott all in the mix.

And classy schemer Wellens, who has played all his career in the third tier until this season, feels that if Rovers find the right striking formula and someone can muster 15 goals – elusive in last season's promotion campaign – that will go a long way towards making their maiden Championship foray a successful one.

Wellens, whose stunning 30-yard strike ensured all three points for Rovers in a 1-0 success over Coventry last weekend, said: "The difference we've seen in this league is the quality of the strikers. Not just on the pitch, but on the bench as well.

"Coventry had Eastwood and (Clinton) Morrison. With Leon Best and McKenzie on the bench, that's three or four million pounds worth of talent.

"The strikers are the people who win the game, they are the important ones. And I think we need to start scoring a few more goals.

"We've got players in the team who can score. They just need to start taking the chances.

"We all know Heffs (Heffernan) can score, we just need him to stay fit on the pitch. Hopefully, if all the strikers are fit it can push those who are in the team on to get maybe 15 this season."

Wellens added: "We're doing okay. Apart from QPR, we should have probably won every game. It was disappointing to concede from two set-pieces at QPR, but defensively we've looked good and have not let many in.

"We could just do with putting a few more chances away. But if we keep winning 1-0, we'd probably take it, although I'm sure the time will come when we'll have to start scoring a few more.

"If we get a few injuries, we might struggle, but if we do get all the strikers fit and firing then I'm sure we'll be okay."

Wellens feels Rovers are making a fair fist of things in the Championship and fully enjoying the ride.

Rovers' renowned passing game has so far served them well – even in the defeat to QPR – and Wellens has already noticed that some rivals have taken contingency plans with word having got around about the South Yorkshiremen's fluid style.

He said: "I think it's a little bit easier on the ball in the Championship.