Darragh Lenihan trained with the Rovers squad today to boost his chances of featuring in Saturday’s game at Middlesbrough.

The Irishman has missed Rovers’ last two matches with a hip problem, but returned to the fold today in a bid to make himself available for the Riverside trip.

Elliott Bennett and Jack Rodwell remain sidelined, but Amari’i Bell is in contention after missing last weekend’s win over Sheffield Wednesday with a tight hamstring.

“Lenihan trained with the team which is positive,” Mowbray revealed.

“Elliott Bennett and Jack Rodwell aren’t training yet.

“Generally the rest are all out there. We’re looking okay.”

Bennett, suspended for the defeat at Wigan last week, has suffered a slight fracture in his metatarsal, with Mowbray admitting it will be an injury they have to manage.

But the performance of Craig Conway on just his third start of the season means he is in pole position to start against Middlesbrough.

The boss added: “It’s a slight fracture of his third metatarsal and I think it will be two weeks maximum before he’s back playing.

“Elliott would play tomorrow, but we have to manage him and as I’ve said to my staff ‘let’s have a 100 per cent fit Craig Conway rather than a 60 or 70 per cent Elliott Bennett.

“As the performance showed last week, the performances of those who have been sitting below those in the starting line-up, they can put in performances to help us win games.”

It would be harsh on Paul Downing were he to lose his place to 24-year-old Lenihan, who has been a mainstay of the team since returning from a long-term injury in February, given his display last weekend.

Downing was making just a second start of the season, but Mowbray has welcomed those difficult decisions, and the performances of his fringe players.

“They are really tough decisions,” he added.

“Lenihan or Downing decision could be a difficult decision.

“You can’t as a football manager complain about having difficult decisions to make.

“I was delighted for Paul and Craig last week that they played their part in a good performance, one that was back to near the levels when we play at our maximum.

“That is only positive news for me that when other injuries come along we have players that can step in, or they keep their places in the team and other people have to sit out.”