Rovers have taken Manchester City youngster Timi Sobowale on trial.

The Republic of Ireland youth international played 90 minutes of the Lancashire Senior Cup win over Everton at Brockhall,.

Boss Billy Barr says the 17-year-old will spend a couple of weeks at Rovers, before a decision is taken on his longer-term future.

Sobowale has been capped eight times by Ireland Under-17s, but has played just 36 minutes for City’s Under-18s this term, including a substitute appearance against Rovers in September.

The teenager finished the Senior Cup win in central defence, with Rovers currently with several of their regular Under-23s defenders.

Hayden Carter is just back from injury, and played an hour against Everton, but Charley Doyle, Louis Annesley and Joe Grayson are all currently sidelined.

“He will be in for a couple of weeks and we’ll see how he goes,” Barr said of Sobowale, who could travel to Chelsea with the Under-23s for their game on Sunday.

Dan Butterworth scored twice on his comeback from a back problem in the win at Southampton last week, but didn’t play against Everton as Rovers monitor his comeback.

Jack Vale was rested for the Senior Cup tie, with Danny Graham dropping down from the first-team set-up.

“Charley is going to be out for a bit. He did something innocuous in training but it turns out he’s damaged some ligaments,” Barr said.

“We’re looking at five to six weeks.

“Joe Grayson, I don’t know how long that will be, he’s working with the first-team physios.

“Brad Lyons, he’ll probably be a month away, so there’s been a few injuries.

“That’s disappointing but it gives some of the younger lads, like Isaac Whitehall, Sam Burns, players who have come in and done really well the last couple of games, and it gives some of the scholars a chance to get in and show us what they’re all about.

“Dan is one that we have to be a little bit careful with. We can’t throw him straight back in and overload him.

“Jack trained with the first team and come back in to the fold.”