Corry Evans has been taken to hospital with Rovers suspecting the midfielder has suffered breaks to his nose and cheekbone.

Evans was carried off on a stretcher just five minutes in to the 1-1 draw with Preston North End after being caught in the face by a high boot from Tom Clarke.

The Northern Ireland international required seven minutes of treatment, before being replaced by Bradley Johnson, and left the pitch on a stretcher, and with an oxygen mask on.

The 29-year-old had been recalled to the starting line-up, after missing the Birmingham Cup tie with a knee injury.

“He has gone to hospital. The doctor said it was a suspected broken nose and possible broken cheekbone,” Mowbray said.

“He had an oxygen mask on as he came past the dug-out, he was in a not too comfortable way.

“He’ll be fine, I’m sure. As a centre half I had a few kicks to the face, broken noses, and they are sore to start with. But he’s a warrior.

“He’s a loss to us, an international footballer who plays how we like to, on the front foot, anticipates, gets our team looking forward on transition.

“He was a loss so early in the game for us.”