The attitude and attributes of Ryan Nyambe will earn him a run in the side, according to boss Tony Mowbray.

Nyambe suggested it would be ‘difficult’ for him to win his place back given Elliott Bennett, who has started all five Championship matches at right back, was made captain following the departure of Charlie Mulgrew.

The Namibia international returned for the Carabao Cup defeat at Sheffield United, his 100th appearance for the club, but has started just one of the last 11 Championship matches.

Bennett appears to have made the right back spot his own, while hamstring injuries have also hampered the progress of Nyambe who, despite his time around the first-team squad, is still only 21.

He impressed his manager with his performances in the Africa Cup of Nations as a central defender, and the boss revealed Nyambe is putting in the hard yards after training in a bid to improve all aspects of his game.

And Mowbray says Bennett having the armband is no barrier to Nyambe who he says will get plenty of opportunities over the course of the season.

“Ryan is a young player who in my opinion has unbelievable attributes and as he does every day, and I was talking to Harry Chapman about this, when training finishes Ryan Nyambe will ask one of the coaches to go to another pitch to do some passing, crossing and some heading,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“He’s out there for maybe an extra half an hour, longer than everyone else.

“Ryan Nyambe will get himself back in this team because I like his attitude, I like what he brings, his desire to be a footballer.

“At this moment he’s got Elliott Bennett in front of him, who understands the game more than he does, has good physical attributes, not as powerful as Nyambe, but enough to be able to defend in this division and pick better passes and understand his job a little bit better than Ryan.

“But Ryan will be getting plenty of opportunities because his attitude is unbelievable and his attitude to be a footballer and want to play at the highest level is fantastic.

“I will be giving him opportunities but as I sit here now I will pick the team that I feel can win the next game and if he’s in it, great, if not, then he has to understand that the manager loves him to bits but I can only pick 11.”