Rovers and Cardiff City are still to decide where Greg Cunningham will undergo his rehabilitation, with the full back set to undergo surgery on his knee on Monday.

Cunningham suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will sideline him for several months, bringing an end to what had been a promising loan spell at Rovers.

The Republic of Ireland international has forged a close connection with everyone at the club, and could remain at Rovers to undergo his rehabilitation, should his parent club agree.

The 28-year-old will first undergo surgery on his knee, before decisions on the next stage of his rehabilitation are taken.

Like Cunningham, Darragh Lenihan also picked up a knee injury in the defeat at QPR last time out, with the 25-year-old set to be sidelined for up to eight weeks as Rovers were hit with a double injury blow.

“Darragh Lenihan has a lateral knee ligament injury. He is a big player for us and was badly missed when he was out for a spell last season,” Mowbray said.

“It’s six to eight weeks, let’s  hope it’s closer to six.

“Greg’s is a lot worse unfortunately for him. He’s got a partial tear of his anterior cruciate knee ligament. He’s a Cardiff City player and while we’ve had him scanned, they have had a specialist look at the scans and decided they want that operating on.

“He will have that on Monday in London.

“An ACL is nine, 10, 11, 12 months, (Dominic) Samuel was 12 months, so ultimately his loan period will be over and he’ll be back at Cardiff.

“The medical departments at the moment are deciding whether he’s going to be doing his rehabilitation here with him being on loan here or whether he’s going to go back to Cardiff.

“We’ll wait and see. It’s a shame for him but we wish him well in his recovery and hope he comes back stronger.”

Cunningham, who has a year left on his Cardiff City contract, signed on deadline day and started eight Championship matches for Rovers, as well as two in the Carabao Cup.

 “He is a really nice lad, who fitted in well with the group,” Mowbray added.

“It’s football, it’s an injury and really disappointing. He’s a nice lad who fits in well and has performed very well on the pitch for us and it’s a shame for him and for us.

“But we have to move on.”