Jack Rodwell could make his long awaited Rovers bow for the Under-23s at Ewood Park on Monday (7pm).

Damien Johnson’s side host Arsenal on Monday as they look for their first win in Premier League 2.

Their cause could be aided by 27-year-old Rodwell after he came through an in-house game during the international break as he continues to build up his fitness after signing a one-year deal at Rovers.

Rodwell, a free signing from Sunderland, had been expected to feature in the Lancashire Senior Cup tie with Preston on Tuesday, only for the visitors to forfeit the game due to a shortage of players.

His next chance will come against the young Gunners, with Mowbray keen to see how the former Manchester City and Everton man stands up to full contact in a competitive fixture.

Rodwell played just six times for Sunderland last season, before being released in the summer, with Mowbray hoping to have unearthed a bargain in the former England international.

He said: “Rodwell’s talent is evident for everyone to see on the training and when the chance comes for Jack I hope he can put that on to the pitch for the first-team and we feel as though we have a real bargain. We had an in-house game and he cruised through that really.

“I think the next step is probably a competitive Under-23s game and let’s see how he gets on with other players and not his colleagues who aren’t going in to him 100 per cent.

“I think that competitive edge he probably needs and he has to bide his time and see how we go as a team.”