TONY Mowbray is looking forward to welcoming Marcus Antonsson and his goals back into the fold as the forward closes in on a return to action.

The Leeds United loanee hasn’t played this calendar year after sustaining an ankle injury in the 2-2 draw with Scunthorpe United on December 30.

Antonsson has been back in training for more than a week now and boss Mowbray revealed he could be back in action for the trip to Walsall next Saturday with tomorrow’s clash at Bury coming too soon for the Swede.

The 26-year-old arrived at Ewood as a centre forward but has impressed in a ‘wide striker’ roles that Mowbray favours.

He has netted eight times in total, including a run of five in five in November, and when asked how much of a miss he had been, Mowbray said: “I think Marcus has done exceptionally well for us to be honest.

“We brought him probably to play down the middle or as a second striker but as we were finding a best way to play we fell on a striker who can play in a wide area and score goals.

“He doesn’t stay out wide he wants to get in to the box and score at the back stick, he wants to be in the middle of the box and score goals, but he’s got an athleticism to work hard and get back in his position.

“He’ll run back with his full-back, he can dribble and run at people, he’s positive.

“Has he been a miss? We were in the middle of an 18 game unbeaten run so I’m not sure but we have missed his goals. In the tight games, sometimes a player like Antonsson can nick you a goal, Scunthorpe away he nicks a goal at the back stick from a cross, thank you very much 1-0 and we put the points in the bag.

“He’s an important player to the group, a fantastic personality around our team, a very humble guy, who works hard and accepts whatever you do with him in terms of selection and I’m looking forward to having him back.

“I’m not sure he’s there yet, he’s only had a few days on the grass but I would suggest he needs to train for another week or so and then we’ll decide how we’re going to use him.”

Antonsson had been used out wide due to the shortage of options, with Harry Chapman and Ben Gladwin having been out since November, while Craig Conway has also had injury troubles during the course of the season.

Dominic Samuel and Adam Armstrong have also played in the wide positions, with Elliott Bennett having partnered Richie Smallwood in the middle of the pitch in the last seven outings.

Injuries to Corry Evans and Peter Whittingham, as well as Rekeem Harper having been recalled by parent club West Bromwich Albion, opened up that possibility for Bennett who along with defender Derrick Williams and attacker Armstrong have all shown their versatility of late.

And Mowbray believes that flexibility is crucial to Rovers’ promotion hopes.

He said: “I think they are all options.

“The game dictates, that’s why I take Richie Smallwood off because we don’t need two defensive midfielders at times.

“I’ve played Bradley Dack centre mid but rarely would I start him there, it’s just the way the game’s going.

“I think Elliott has shown his ability to play in a number of positions, as a few players have, and that’s comforting to have players who are comfortable in a number of positions that you can move around.”