Lewis Travis says the Rovers youngsters see the lack of activity in the January transfer window as an opportunity and a vote of confidence from Tony Mowbray.

Travis benefited from a suspension to Richie Smallwood 12 months ago and has never looked back since, with the current injury situation at the club offering chances to more Academy graduates.

Joe Rankin-Costello made his first Rovers start in the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough, with John Buckley another youngster to be in and around the first-team set-up.

Travis, who scored his second goal of the season in the draw with Boro, was one of five players aged 22 or under to start for Rovers at the weekend and he has confidence in the young players coming through taking their chance as he has.

“If you look we’re a young group and the players coming through have lots of ability and hopefully they can come and grasp their opportunity,” he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“The younger players, if you look at the transfer window and no-one coming in, that’s a boost.

“The gaffer is willing to give young players a chance and when it comes you just have to take it.

“He believes in the young players, and rightly so, because they’re all very good players.”

Rankin-Costello was a team-mate of Travis’ during their time in the Under-23s, with the former Manchester United having impressed this season with four goals in 13 appearances.

He spent much of his first league start wearing a bandage after a heavy collision with Boro goalkeeper Aynsley Pears left him requiring several minutes of treatment as blood poured from his head.

It was a ‘welcome to the Championship’ introduction if ever there was one, but Travis said of Rankin-Costello: “He’s a great player.

“It wasn’t the best game for him to come in to, he’s someone who likes to get on the ball and have lots of touches but we all said to him that it was a tough game and he came in and did his job.”

Rovers were made to work for their point late on after Travis’ opener was cancelled out by Hayden Coulson’s 77th minute finish.

Reflecting on the game, Travis said: “In hindsight I think it’s a good point, but personally I’m disappointed because I think we should have taken all three.

“It’s a typical Championship game, two teams going at it, defensively good, but once one team scores it opens up.

“It’s a tough ground to come to and when you look at the form table they’re right up there, particularly at home.

“When you look at the point, it’s good, but also an opportunity missed.”