Close to leaving on loan 12 months ago, midfielder Lewis Travis has emerged as one of the first names on Tony Mowbray’s teamsheet.

A turning point in his rise from fledgling prospect to first-team regular could well be charted back to Rovers’ last trip to Bramall Lane in December.

Travis missed out on a loan move last summer, but one looked set to materialise in January before being handed his first Championship start against Chris Wilder’s side.

An impressive performance that day, coupled with a red card for Richie Smallwood which saw him miss the next three games, meant Travis stuck around at Ewood Park, and he’s never looked back, going on to start 22 of Rovers’ next 25 Championship fixtures, including all four this season.

He could well be one of the players handed a night off tonight but looks back with great fondness on his rise to becoming a Championship regular.

“It has been year to remember but I am still learning,” the 21-year-old explained.

“It’s massive, football is about ups and downs. If I think about this time last year, I can’t remember where I was going, I was perhaps scraping around for a League Two, League One team.

“But from there to now, it is massive, I could not have dreamed about anything better.”

Smallwood was restored to the matchday squad for the first time against Cardiff City and could start in the Carabao Cup for the second time after being involved against Oldham.

Whoever does start against the Blades will be keen to continue Rovers’ improved form at the back which has seen them keep three consecutive clean sheets.

They shipped two in each of their first three matches this season, including in round one of the Carabao Cup to Oldham Athletic.

But three shut-outs in successive league matches since has brought great confidence and belief and put aside some doubts over their ability to improve on last season’s record in which they conceded 69 times in 46 league games.

Travis says that disappointing record can’t be pinned on just the back four, and praised the impact of Christian Walton after he arrived on a season-long loan deal from Brighton.

“Last season we were all disappointed with that,” Travis said of the goals against column.

“There is no blame on the back four, we defend as a whole team so you can’t be blaming just the back four.

“We have been working on that as a team and I think it has showed in the last three games.

“The gaffer loves his keepers to come out and dominant the box and I think he (Walton) has done that.

“When he does things like that he gives the whole team confidence.”