Craig Conway and Elliott Bennett won’t be available for this weekend’s visit of Norwich City.

Conway joined Bennett on the injury list after sustaining a thigh strain in the early stages of the 2-2 draw with Birmingham City.

That was the third match that 30-year-old Bennett had missed with a slight fracture to his fourth metatarsal.

And his absence will continue against his former team Norwich who will arrive at Ewood Park second in the table.

Starting with Conway, who had started the three previous matches, Mowbray said: “He’s not going to be ready for this weekend.

“It’s only a grade one strain, but he won’t be ready for this weekend.

“Hopefully next week he’ll be available.

“The games are coming thick and fast, we have five games in 15 days and he’ll be ready for a few of them I’m sure.”

On Bennett, he added: “It’s a similar sort of timescale with Elliott.

“I think Boxing Day (against Leeds) might be a day too soon, so maybe the game after that (Sheffield United).

“The most important thing is that they get back fit and we’re not gambling on them or trying to nick a day or two off them and they end up breaking down and are out for a month.

“It’s judged on a daily basis.

“Elliott is back running, but he has to go through a process.

“If it was the last game of the season then I think they would both play, but we have a lot of important games coming up and we have to make sure they are right.”

However, Jack Rodwell, who has missed the last three matches, is expected to return to the squad after feeling the effects of a strong challenge in the defeat to Wigan last month.