ROVERS boss Owen Coyle admitted there is ‘huge temptation’ to return Charlie Mulgrew to the starting line-up tonight as the Ewood chief continues to battle an injury crisis.

The former Celtic man was back on the bench on Saturday having seen his Rovers debut at QPR a month ago curtailed by injury after just 34 minutes.

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Coyle revealed Mulgrew was desperate to return to action and was impressing in training, and his chance could come against Nottingham Forest.

Midfielder Corry Evans, who replaced Mulgrew at Loftus Road, will undergo a late fitness test after coming off injured in the goalless draw with Ipswich on Saturday.

“Charlie Mulgrew is training every day and he is looking great and there is a huge temptation to throw him in from the start,” said Coyle.

“The danger with that is if he picks up an injury and misses six to eight weeks. He’s going to be a very important player for us moving forward.

“That’s one we’ll have to really assess. Charlie is champing at the bit to play and he’s looking fantastic in training.

“We saw at QPR the quality he brings and the composure he has on the ball. He’s a real team player. Given the players we have missing that is one we will have to look at.”

Rovers have had rotten luck with injuries so far this term and that has continued with the news that central defender Elliott Ward will be out for a ‘number of months’ after suffering a fractured ankle in training.

The 31-year-old had only just returned to training after picking up an ankle injury 21 minutes into the opening game of the season against Norwich City.

“It’s a real blow for the big lad, and he’ll be out for a number of months.

“He came back in training with the group, he’s been working hard for two or three weeks.

"In Thursday’s session he blocked a shot, we had that assessed and the result is it’s a little fracture.

"That will need to be operated on and it’s a real shame for Elliott, he has worked hard to get back into a position to try and look to challenge for a place but he’s been beset by bad luck and that’s not helped him.”

Gordon Greer was withdrawn at half time against Ipswich and is extremely unlikely to face Forest tonight, while Danny Graham is also set to miss out again.

“Danny is still out, Gordon had to come off at half time and I would say has little or no chance of being available. It’s possible both of them may be available for Saturday,” said Coyle.

“Corry Evans is another one that we will give to the last minute but we will have to assess.”

Greer had withdrawn from Scotland duty after tweaking his groin and he could feel the problem again during Saturday’s game.

Coyle added: “He stepped into the game and played very well on Saturday, but as the half was wearing on he knew he had to come off before he aggravated it and missed our, five or six weeks. Hopefully it’s a week and we get him back to where he was.”