He is yet to do it this season, but could Tony Mowbray name an unchanged side for Rovers’ trip to Fleetwood Town?

The Ewood boss has altered his line-up in every fixture so far this term and admits keeping the same side that defeated promotion rivals Shrewsbury Town last weekend is a possibility.

Since then Mowbray has added Jack Payne to his squad with the playmaker joining on loan from Huddersfield Town.

And, despite none of Rovers’ sidelined players expected to return for the Highbury trip, Mowbray says the challenge of picking a starting XI isn’t an easy one.

Mowbray, the only manager in the EFL yet to name an uncahged side, said: “This week’s training has been exceptionally good and it is hard to pick an XI.

“You could just say pick the same XI as last week against Shrewsbury but they are a different team to Fleetwood with different strengths and weaknesses.

“We have to pick the team we believe before kick-off is best equipped to go and get a result and compete against Fleetwood and the way they play.

“You have to give them credit, I sat and watched them play against Leicester, Premier League champions two seasons ago and I know it wasn’t their full starting XI but they acquitted themselves very well.

“They carry some very obvious threats, particularly from set plays, and it’s a difficult place to go, not somewhere where anyone goes and particularly dominates.

“They are a constant threat on the change of possession, from set plays and they work extremely hard and are very well organised.”

Elliott Bennett filled the central midfield void to partner Richie Smallwood against the Shrews but Mowbray revealed the opposition played a part in that decision.

“Having watched their (Shrewsbury’s) last three or four games and played against them earlier in the season, their biggest three is their midfield triangle,” he said.

“We needed to match that part of the pitch and I think Elliott going in there alongside Richie, as their manager commented, our central midfield really competed with theirs exceptionally well. It’s horses for courses really.

“I was very aware of Shrewsbury’s strengths and picked our midfield for that game but in other games if we need a better passer or a more creative player who can switch the play or technically different ones, but on that day the combination showed how good they can be.”