Harrison Reed won't be fit enough to make an Ewood return for current loan club Fulham as he remains sidelined with a calf problem.

Rovers tried to sign Reed on loan for a season season from Southampton in the summer after an impressive spell in 2018/19.

Fulham won the race for the 25-year-old who has played 17 times this season, but none since limping off in a New Year's Day defeat to Reading.

Boss Scott Park revealed better news on the fitness of Anthony Knockaert however, with Fulham arriving at Ewood having taken 10 points from the last 12 available.

“Anthony Knockaert has trained over the last days so we’ll have to see how he goes and if the weekend comes a little bit early for him,” Parker said. “But he’s certainly on the right track.

“Alfie Mawson’s come out of surgery last week, so he’ll be out for some time. Max Le Marchand is the same, and Harrison Reed there’s still an issue.”

Fulham have climbed to third in the table, but Parker is well aware of the threat Rovers face, particularly at Ewood.

“I think they’re unbeaten in 10 at home and the last time they lost was in September,” he told his club's website.

“He’s done a great job there, Tony, a really good job.

“We played them early on in the season, the second game of the season. We won but it was a very tight game, a tough game as well.

“I’ve been watching bits of them over the last few weeks and they’ve had some really good results.

“They’re very tough to beat at Ewood Park so it’s going to be a very big test for us on the road.

“We’re in good form and we’re in a good place, but we’re under no illusions, we know the weekend is going to be a very, very tough game.”

Parker also revealed his knowledge of Tony Mowbray started almost 20 years ago, explaining: “I know Tony really well. I met him when I was getting married in Barbados, just me and my wife, however long ago now.

“We had two weeks there and Tony was there at the time, and that was where I first met him.

“It’s not like we’re always in contact, but certainly at the beginning of the season here we had a chat.

“How time’s moved on; he first saw me when I was a 20-year-old getting married to my wife, and now I’m four more kids down the line!”