TONY Mowbray is hoping Darragh Lenihan will be given the green light to step up his rehabilitation from his foot injury when the Rovers defender meets his specialist today.

The Irishman hasn’t featured for Rovers since the opening day defeat at Southend United having been sidelined by a fractured metatarsal.

Lenihan underwent surgery in September and Mowbray revealed last month that the 23-year-old was now walking freely after his protective boot was removed.

The injury was always likely to sideline for Lenihan for much of the calendar year, with Mowbray admitting he will have to slowly be integrated back in to the group.

The boss told the club’s official website: “Darragh Lenihan we initially thought would be back around Christmas time, so he's still one month or six weeks to go.

“Darragh will have an assessment with a specialist on Friday to see how he's progressing and coming along. We're hopeful he'll get the green light to push on with his rehab, get on with more weight stuff and get the green light.

“It won't be a case of waiting three or four weeks for Darragh and he's fit for selection. You have to integrate him back slowly, get him to join in with the team and give him time to get up to speed.

“He'll be eager to play and we may have to hold him back a bit to ensure he's fully recovered.”