Derrick Williams remains Rovers’ main injury concern ahead of this weekend’s game with Derby County.

Williams has been out since picking up a calf problem in a goalscoring appearance for the Republic of Ireland during the international break.

The 26-year-old scored against New Zealand but was forced off in the second half and ruled out of the qualifying defeat to Denmark.

Williams didn’t feature in pre-season, or in the opening game of the season against Charlton, with a calf problem but went on to make 15 consecutive starts, mostly at centre half.

However, Williams was operating at left back before his injury, starting there for the win over Sheffield Wednesday and defeat at Leeds United before the international break.

Stewart Downing has filled in during wins over Brentford and Stoke City, with Amari’i Bell having featured against Barnsley, with left back having become something of a problem for Mowbray since losing Greg Cunningham for the season with a knee injury.

Williams’ injury has seen him miss the last three matches, and Mowbray expects Williams to miss the home game with Derby County, and away trips to Swansea City and Bristol City.

“It’s looking pretty much as it was,” Mowbray said of the injury situation.

“Derrick Williams is not available, he won’t be ready for a few weeks.

“I don’t think it’s a setback. He had his boots on last week and was jogging, but felt his calf so the medical department have decided to take a step back and not push on as much as they would have hoped.

“But it’s not a setback, just an awareness not to push on as quickly.

“I would suggest he’ll miss the next three games at least.”

Williams’ absence has coincided with a return to fitness for Darragh Lenihan who has captained the side in the last two matches.

Rovers have won just four of the 21 matches that Lenihan has missed in the last two seasons, and have picked up three consecutive victories since he came from a knee problem.

And Mowbray said: “Lenihan coming back fit, it’s not rocket science, the statistics are there that over a while that when Lenihan isn’t in the team it’s given us more of a problem.

“I think his character, his personality, he can bounce off other players and I think Tosin (Adarabioyo) will benefit from having Lenihan’s voice alongside him and his organisational skills, as Derrick would from Lenihan next to him.

“The key is to keep them fit and it will give us a better chance to win games.

“The sooner Derrick is fit to give us possible rotation as the games come thick and fast we’ll see, but at this moment he’ll be unavailable.”