ROVERS have been given something of a boost with news that Charlie Mulgrew’s ankle injury is not as bad as first feared after he was forced off in the second half of Scotland’s 2-0 win over Malta on Monday.

The skipper has a chance of being involved at Spotland this weekend, as does Derrick Williams who returned to training on Monday after limping out of the Checkatrade Trophy win over Stoke City Under-21s last weekend with a groin injury.

Mulgrew limped out of the World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park on Monday 10 minutes in to the second half to be replaced by former Rovers skipper Grant Hanley.

There were fears the defender, who has scored three goals already this season, could be set for an extended period on the sidelines, but after being assessed by Rovers' medical department this afternoon, it is believed that he has sustained no serious damage.

The news comes as a boost to Rovers in the week that they learned Darragh Lenihan is set to miss several months after scans revealed he has suffered a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal.

His surgery on Monday is understood to have been a success, with the 23-year-old having not featured since the opening day defeat at Southend United.

Scott Wharton (ankle) remains sidelined by an injury picked up in training, while Ryan Nyambe (ankle) is also a doubt after coming off at half-time in last week’s Checkatrade Trophy tie.

Tony Mowbray moved to strengthen his defensive options on deadline day, bringing in central defender Paul Downing on a season-long loan from MK Dons, as well as left-back Sam Hart from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee.