Stephen Bradley says Danny Mandroiu has the potential to become the Hoops’ first twenty goal a season goalscorer since Gary Twigg.
The Republic of Ireland under-21 cap scored a spectacular diving header as Rovers breezed past UCD in their league opener on Friday night.
A Seán Hoare header sent Rovers, who travel to Derry City on Friday, on their way early on and Mandroiu added a second before Graham Burke added a third late on.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion playmaker could have had a hat-trick in the first half alone but had to settle for just the one.
Bradley says there is more to come from last season’s club top scorer, adding that he has the potential to be Rovers’ first twenty-goal striker since Twigg ten years ago.
Twigg passed the twenty mark in three of his four seasons at Rovers, but only five men have managed it across the league since.
Hoops midfielder Richie Towell did it for Dundalk in 2015, but the only others to manage the feat are Patrick Hoban, Christy Fagan, Sean Maguire and, last season, Georgie Kelly.
But Bradley feels Ireland under-21 cap Mandroiu, who attracted the interest of Celtic in the winter, has all the attributes to add his name to the list.
“The one he scores is the hardest one. He's disappointed there Danny because he should have probably had a hat-trick.
“He has four or five, for Danny, they're really good chances and I think he can hit twenty goals plus.
“As he gets sharper and fitter with more games under his belt, I'm sure he'll take those opportunities.”
