Jacob Davenport is in contention for a first start for the club as Rovers’ injury crisis shows no sign of easing.

Corry Evans sustained a fractured skull and shattered eye socket in last weekend’s draw with Preston North End, while fellow central midfield options Stewart Downing and Bradley Johnson didn’t train on Thursday.

Johnson is struggling with illness, and is a big doubt for Saturday’s game at Sheffield Wednesday, leaving Rovers short of options in the middle of the park.

Elliott Bennett has played in the central area for Rovers, but Mowbray name-checked Davenport as a possible alternative at Hillsborough.

Joe Rankin-Costello is also back fit, and will travel with the squad, while John Buckley could come back in the squad after missing out last weekend.

Admitting Rovers are light in central midfield, the manager added: “Jacob Davenport is about ready, he’s been knocking on my door saying when is he going to get an opportunity.

“If it means Jacob Davenport gets some game-time then good for him. I brought him in, I signed him as a young guy with potential and we’ll have to see whether he stands out and makes a name for himself.

“Or he doesn’t and he’s not quite ready. John Buckley has had some game-time, we’ve taken him out and put him back in and all those things will stand him in good stead in the long run.

“But ultimately if you lose an international footballer you’d like to be able to put another one in to replace him.

“Rankin-Costello is now back on the grass, John Buckley is a young midfield player, we have some options.”

Davenport has made just one senior appearance for Rovers, on the final day of last season against Swansea, having struggled with three separate long-term injuries during his time at the club.

But he has been a regular for the Under-23s this season, and although previously expected to be considered for a loan move this month, could force his way in to the first-team plans. 

One positive for Rovers is that Ryan Nyambe, who limped out of the Preston draw with a sore hamstring, has trained in the lead up to the Hillsborough trip.

Rovers will be careful with the 22-year-old who had only just returned from four matches out with a similar injury before being forced off against North End.

But Mowbray added: “He trained (on Thursday), which is positive. He had a scan which didn’t show much damage.

“He’s rested up, had a few days in the treatment room, and preparing.

“He didn’t do the extra loads that some of the players did after training, which the group tend to do.

“Ryan, we will manage him through those days and then hopefully he’ll be ready for the weekend.”

Downing played the full 90 minutes against Preston out wide, but has played centrally at times this season, while Johnson replaced Evans just five minutes in to last weekend’s game.

“Stewart Downing didn’t train. Bradley Johnson didn’t train, he’s got an illness,” Mowbray revealed.

“Let’s wait and see, they will need to train on Friday if they are to be in contention for the weekend.

“While you think it’s starting to get a bit easier, it suddenly gets a bit worse again.

“I try not to sit here and moan about injuries and illness, and selection issues, but you seem to getting some players back and then some more are taken away.

“We will select a team for the weekend and be as positive as we can and try and find a way of getting back to winning ways on the road.”