ROVERS could be handed an injury boost ahead of their vital run-in after head coach Tony Mowbray revealed three first-team regulars are closing in on a return to action.

There were fears that Rovers’ first choice central defensive pairing of Charlie Mulgrew and Darragh Lenihan would be ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering ankle injuries during the defeat at Reading on April 4.

However, Lenihan trained with the squad on Sunday, while Mulgrew has resumed running ahead of a possible return before the end of the season.

Joint top scorer Danny Graham, who limped out of the Barnsley defeat on April 8, is also making progress as he looks to overcome a hip injury which followed on from a groin operation he underwent during the international break.

And head coach Mowbray revealed: “Lenihan actually trained with the group on Sunday.

“Ten days ago he was finished for the season but he actually trained with the group, yet he felt it still a little bit, but he is still very confident that he might do two or three days training this week.

“Which will give us some decisions to make.

“Charlie Mulgrew isn’t far away either, he has been running on the grass.

“Danny has been kicking balls and running around the training pitches with the physios.”

Jason Steele is also currently sidelined by an ankle injury picked up in the Barnsley defeat, which ended his run of 82 consecutive Championship starts.

David Raya has deputised for the 26-year-old in the Easter fixtures, with Mowbray admitting Steele is still some way behind the others in terms of progress.

He added: “We haven’t seen Jason Steele on the grass yet, but there are some positive signs and hopefully we have some more choices next Saturday.”

A return of the trio before the end of the season would provide Mowbray with a big boost, but he admits he won’t take risks with their fitness, despite the situation Rovers find themselves in.

Rovers go in to their remaining three games of the season still one point from safety ahead of Saturday's trip to Wolves.

“We’ll have to wait and see, they have to train, they have to come through training and come back the next day and say they feel fine and they are ready to go,” Mowbray told the club's official website.

“It is not a time to gamble on players, but ultimately you want to put what you consider your best players on the pitch to give the team the best chance to win a football match.

“So we’ll assess later in the week who is fit, but the positive is that they have been back on the grass and it shows me that they are desperate to play and have a part to play.

“So let’s hope that we’ve got some good news regarding some options to pick the team for next week.”