Rovers will be without Darragh Lenihan for up to eight weeks, the club have revealed.

Lenihan was forced off in the second half of the defeat to QPR and withdrew from the Republic of Ireland squad as a result.

And Rovers say that scan results have shown Lenihan has sustained a slight lateral knee ligament injury, as well as damage to his hamstring, which is expected to keep him out of action for the next six to eight weeks.

It comes as a blow to Rovers who are set to be without on-loan full back Greg Cunningham for an extended period of time after suffering a knee injury in the QPR defeat.

Cunningham revealed on social media he is set to be out for 'a number of months' with a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury.

However, Rovers say they are still awaiting definitive diagnosis from a specialist regarding the extent of the injury.

The 28-year-old, who has started 10 games for Rovers this season, underwent a scan at parent club Cardiff City, who will decide where he undergoes his rehabilitation.

Lenihan's absence will likely rule him out of eight matches, leaving Derrick Williams and Manchester City loanee Tosin Adarabioyo, who has had injury problems of his own this season, as the senior central defensive options.

Lenihan and Williams have been the central defensive partnership for the last 10 games, but that will now be broken up, with Amari'i Bell the man likely to replace Cunningham at left back.

The injury absence for 25-year-old Lenihan is similar to that suffered in February following a defeat at Brentford which sidelined him for seven weeks and was the start of a run of results that saw Rovers win just once in 11 matches.

Mowbray will want to avoid any such repeat, with his side currently three without a win, ahead of their return to action next weekend.

Rovers have four central defenders, including club captain Charlie Mulgrew, currently out on loan, with Scott Wharton, Matty  and Tyler Magloire at Northampton, Barrow and Rochdale respectively, though the latter is currently out injured.

They can't be recalled until the January window re-opens, with Ryan Nyambe and Joe Grayson other options for Mowbray in the heart of his defence. 

Williams meanwhile is away on international duty with Republic of Ireland and is expected back at Brockhall on Thursday, giving Mowbray two days to work with his full squad ahead of the Huddersfield game.