Darragh Lenihan has handed boss Tony Mowbray a welcome boost by taking part in full training ahead of the visit of Barnsley.

The defender has missed the last five matches with an injury picked up in the defeat at QPR on October 4, with Rovers picking up four points in his absence.

His return is particularly welcome given Derrick Williams picked up a calf strain during his time away with the Republic of Ireland and hasn’t trained since returning to East Lancashire over the weekend.

Rovers have always been quietly optimistic that Lenihan would be ready for after the November break, but Mowbray has been cautious given the Irishman’s recent injury worries.

Ryan Nyambe has played five consecutive matches for Rovers, the last two as a central defender, and will return to the fold tomorrow after his international commitments with Namibia.

The 21-year-old played 90 minutes in a win over Chad last week, and defeat to Guinea on Sunday, and is expected to train tomorrow ahead of Rovers’ return to Championship action.

Rovers’ other international, midfielder Corry Evans, will also return from Northern Ireland duty tomorrow as Mowbray prepares his side for Saturday’s game.

Williams was forced to withdraw from the Ireland squad having scored in a friendly win over New Zealand last Thursday before being substituted 11 minutes in to the second half.

The 26-year-old sat out Monday’s draw with Denmark as Mick McCarthy’s side were made to settle for a play-off spot in their quest to quality for Euro 2020.

It was a recurrence of Williams’ injury that saw him miss Rovers’ pre-season campaign and the opening day defeat to Charlton Athletic before starting the next 15 consecutive matches.

Elsewhere, the injury situation at Rovers is looking a little brighter, with Ben Brereton and Dominic Samuel now back in first-team contention.

Rovers played an in-house game last Friday, with several Under-18s filling in to boost numbers with the internationals away.

 Brereton came through an hour after an Under-23s appearance the previous week, as he looks to overcome a knee injury that hasn’t seen him feature since August following surgery.

Samuel played 90 minutes in the Premier League International Cup defeat to Hertha Berlin following a groin problem, and could be considered for more action against Manchester City on Friday night to further boost his fitness.

Greg Cunningham is a long-term concern, the on-loan full back ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury, but remains at Brockhall to undergo his rehabilitation post surgery.

Under-23s captain Joe Grayson is another of the club’s defenders to have gone under the knife.

The 20-year-old isn’t expected to play again this season after sustaining a hamstring tear in training, with left back Sam Hart also sidelined with a knee problem.