Tony Mowbray says Derrick Williams can count himself unfortunate not to be joining his Rovers team-mates in the Republic of Ireland squad.

Darragh Lenihan and Greg Cunningham were both recalled to Mick McCarthy’s squad ahead of a Euro 2020 double-header against Georgia on September 12 and Switzerland three days later.

The trio, regulars in the Rovers back four, were named in the provisional squad for the September qualifiers but missed out when numbers were trimmed from 40 to 25.

National team coach Terry Connor watched Rovers’ win at Reading last month, with Lenihan and Cunningham recalled, but Williams missing out despite an impressive start to the campaign.

Rovers head in to the break after the weekend’s game at QPR, with Mowbray hoping his internationals, which include Corry Evans (Northern Ireland) will return fit and healthy for the visit of Huddersfield Town on October 19.

“I’m pleased for them. I think Derrick Williams can count himself unfortunate that he’s not made the squad, I think he’s on standby,” he said.

“He’s been very good for us this season.

“International football is good as long as they come back and have done enough training and worked hard whether they get any game-time is another thing of course and we hope they are fit and ready to go after the international break.”

Cunningham, on loan from Cardiff City, won the last of his four caps in 2013 but is in contention to start against Georgia with Sheffield United’s Enda Stevens suspended.

Lenihan last played for his country in November 2018 and has been recalled because of injuries to Shane Duffy (calf) and Richard Keogh (knee), though McCarthy hasn’t ruled out Duffy featuring in the qualifiers despite not being named in the original squad.

His availability could well depend on whether 25-year-old Williams, who has one cap to his name, gets included in the final squad which meets up on Sunday.