TONY Mowbray has welcomed the nearing return of some senior faces as Rovers move in to the 'business end of the season'.

And he believes they can help Rovers cure a potential 'third game a week syndrome' having seen their unbeaten run ended at Plymouth Argyle last weekend.

Darragh Lenihan, Charlie Mulgrew, Ben Gladwin and Marcus Antonsson all trained with the squad on Thursday, with skipper Mulgrew in contention to feature against Oldham Athletic should he suffer no reaction.

The Scot has been out with an ankle injury picked up in the home draw with Northampton Town on January 27 while Lenihan, Gladwin and Antonsson have been sidelined since August, November and December respectively.

Corry Evans is now back fit, with Mowbray happy with the level of competition for places when factoring in his new signings and Academy prospects.

He said: “As we come to the business end of the season it’s good that we have a lot of senior players to pick from.

“We can look at that third game a week syndrome that I’ve felt impacted on the side at the weekend.

“I have to make some pretty strong and tough decisions some days and leaving players out who have done well because I’m not sure they can get that third game at the same levels.

“That’s all right because it gives experienced players the opportunity to show me that maybe they should be starting every game.

“The new signings added to that has created a lot of competition but as last Saturday showed it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to win, you can only play 11 players and you have to get the right balance on the pitch and hopefully this weekend we’ll get the right balance and the three points.”

Mowbray admits it is becoming more difficult to pick a starting XI, and substitutes bench, each week but says that is no guarantee for success.

Lenihan will look to play 90 minutes for the Under-23s in their Premier League Cup tie with Reading on Friday night, while on-loan Middlesbrough winger Harry Chapman was back at Brockhall as he continues his rehabilitation from a long-term hamstring injury.

When asked for an injury update, the boss said: “There have been a few training out there, we don’t do the squad until Friday morning when we have the medical reports in.

“Charlie trained, Marcus Antonsson trained, Ben Gladwin trained, how they are we will wait and see. Charlie, if he’s fit, has every chance of playing.

“Harry Chapman was out on the grass, he didn’t train with us, but players are coming back.

“You can feel the positive vibe in training when players come back.

“Lenihan will play for the Under-23s and hopefully get 90 minutes then he’ll be ready as well for us.

“There are lots of positives and regarding the squad I will wait and see what the medical department say and see if there are any aches and pains after training and then we’ll pick the squad and then the team and see if we can get a result.”