Charlie Mulgrew won’t travel with the Rovers squad for this weekend’s game at Brentford as he continues his comeback from a hamstring injury.

Mulgrew has trained with the first team squad this week, but Mowbray doesn’t want to rush back his captain who hasn’t played since the FA Cup third round tie at Newcastle on January 5.

Jack Rodwell has proven to be a more than able deputy for the 33-year-old and is expected to keep his place at the heart of the Rovers defence at Griffin Park.

“He’s close now, he’s trained with the team, but I have spoken to him and I think we’re going to give him a week’s training before he plays,” Mowbray said.

“Rather than coming all the way to Brentford he might as well train tomorrow, but he’s about ready.

“He’s done the sessions, but not enough to throw him in to a team that has been doing okay. He will stay here this weekend and train, and all of next week, and then hopefully we will see what we decide to do next week.”

Rovers have kept three consecutive clean sheets in wins over Millwall, Ipswich and Hull City, having previously gone two months without one.

“I think the team is functioning pretty well defensively,” Mowbray added of Mulgrew’s fight to get back in the team.

“We have huge respect for what Charlie Mulgrew has done for this football club over the last two years I have been here, and before I got here.

“Charlie has the respect of his team-mates and manager for what he has achieved. I don’t need to ask Charlie to work hard and apply himself in training because he’s the standard bearer of training, setting the tempo.

“He understands that if the team is functioning well and he’s out of the picture then he will be patient, bide his time and wait for the right moment and I’m sure that won’t be too long.”