TONY Mowbray admits he faces something of a selection dilemma going in to tonight’s Checkatrade Trophy tie with Stoke City Under-21s.

Competition rules state Rovers have to name four of the starting XI from the previous game. Twelve clubs were sanctioned by the EFL last season, in which Rovers took part as one of 16 Academy sides, for not naming strong enough teams.

Mowbray will now have to weigh up who to include for their first group game, but admits a promising start to the season for Rovers Under-23s could see some of Damien Johnson’s side included

“I would like to play a strong team but that is difficult with the numbers that we have got,” Mowbray said.

“We have no (Charlie) Mulgrew or (Corry) Evans, yet we have to play four players who played on Saturday.

“That becomes very difficult because (Elliott) Ward has played three games in a week, (Dominic) Samuel has earned his rest, (Craig) Conway has been out for a month and then played three times in a week, (Elliott) Bennett hasn’t missed a minute of football, (Richie) Smallwood hasn’t, so who we are going to play is the equation for me.

“What I would say is that the Under-23s have done fantastically well, won again at Southampton, and it might be an opportunity for a few of them to step up and play in the first-team arena.”

Ryan Nyambe could come back in to the side after recovering from a knee injury to make the bench for Saturday’s win over MK Dons.

The likes of Peter Whittingham, Liam Feeney, Ben Gladwin, Peter Whittingham and Danny Graham will all be eyeing a return to the starting line-up, while youngsters Jack Doyle and Willem Tomlinson could also feature.

Rovers are without the services of skipper Mulgrew, midfielder Evans, and goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler who are all away on international duty.

Mowbray made five changes to his side for the Carabao Cup defeat to Burnley last week, and although promotion from League One remains the priority this season, he wants Rovers to enjoy the feeling of winning games as he targets Checkatrade Trophy progress.

“I was part of the journey that saw Coventry City win the competition (Checkatrade Trophy) at Wembley where they took 40,000 supporters,” Mowbray said.

“I want the team to try and enjoy winning football matches, whether that’s in the Checkatrade or in the league.

“I will be on the touchline tonight making sure we give everything that we’ve got whatever the team is and I would expect us to win.

“We’re playing a Premier League Under-23 side but I expect us to be on the front foot, play with lots of energy and quality and try and get the points that will give us an opportunity going in to the other two games of this section.”

Rovers were drawn in Group D along with League One sides Bury and Rochdale.

The winner of each tie receives three points, and should any game be level after 90 minutes, a penalty shoot-out will be played with the winners receiving an extra bonus point.

The top two sides from each group qualify for the knockout stages.