ELLIOTT Bennett hopes boss Tony Mowbray will have even more selection headaches after the international break.

Captain Charlie Mulgrew, and fellow defender Derrick Williams, were ruled out of Rovers’ final match before the break, a 1-1 draw with Rotherham United.

Harrison Reed came off at half time with a knee injury, but all three are expected to be back fit in time for Rovers’ trip to Preston on November 24.

Injuries throughout the course of the season have seen Bennett used in a variety of position, having deputised for Ryan Nyambe at right back for the past seven matches.

Bennett finished the Rotherham draw in central midfield, highlighting his versatility.

But the 29-year-old, captain for each of Rovers’ last two matches in the absence of Mulgrew,

hopes a two-week break from action can allow for the short-term injuries within the squad to clear up.

He said: “The skipper is obviously the main one. The way he is on the pitch, he’s a leader and obviously has undoubted quality.

“The lads that have been coming in are doing well, have bought in to what the gaffer is wanting so it’s been a real team effort.

“But it would be great to have everyone fully fit and give the manager even more problems when picking the team.”

Rovers made three changes for the visit of Rotherham, having made six against QPR and five for the trip to West Brom.

Mowbray has mixed up his squad, partly down to injury, but also to hand opportunities to players who have been short of game-time.

And Bennett, who has become a firm fixture of the side, says no-one can take their place for granted under Mowbray.

“I don’t think the gaffer ever likes that to be honest because then people become comfortable and that’s not the way he is,” he said.

“Every day in training is a chance to show the gaffer that you could be in the team.

“As we saw at West Brom, Craig Conway came in and did a brilliant job in an unfamiliar position.

“You get that chance on the back of training well and that’s what you want, competition in the squad.”

Bennett’s appearances this season have come in a variety of positions while he was also one of the players to volunteer to go in goal when David Raya was stretchered off in the draw at West Brom on October 27.

In the end Richie Smallwood took the gloves, with Bennett needed at right back.

On putting his name forward, he joked: “I thought I’ve not played in goal, yet, I’ve played everywhere else.

“Richie stepped in and did what he did and thankfully we came away with a point.

“Even in that game the tide was going with us and then David went off and it was about digging in to hold what we had.”