As Rovers' options have become more stretched, they have been reliant on players stepping up to the plate.

Whether it be Christian Walton and his back four who have conceded just three times in six matches, Adam Armstrong who has taken on the goalscoring mantle from Bradley Dack or the experience of Stewart Downing in midfield, it has been a team effort to help Rovers through their injury problems.

But the maturing Lewis Travis has also been a pivotal part of Rovers’ success, maintaining incredible fitness levels where others have struggled to put in performances that have made his list of admirers grow.

Travis has played all but 114 minutes of Rovers’ last 19 matches since being surprisingly left out against Preston in October.

And how Rovers have needed him given the midfield injury problems, not least to long-time partner Corry Evans with who he shared a record of 10 wins and just three defeats from their 16 matches together.

Mowbray feels the 22-year-old, still just over a year in to his Championship career, is maturing every day and admits his ability to cover the ground, and sensed danger, has become a key part of Rovers’ play.

“He’s mature in all his training stuff. As a really young boy he always used to train and play 100mph every day but now he manages his training so that he can peak on matchdays,” Mowbray explained.

“He’s like a safety blanket. You can leave him behind a Downing and he will put out the fires.

“If teams can break away and transition, Trav always seems to be there, he blocks it off or puts his foot in. And then he can drive with the ball and pick the right pass, switch the play.

“He is developing all the time, which is a positive for him because if his aspirations are the Premier League when his career develops then he has to be able to play with the ball, not just go round and take the ball off the opposition.”

Rovers will be desperate to keep Travis injury free for the remainder of the campaign given his growing influence on the team.

And the manager feels it’s credit to his character that he has sensed the need to stand up at a time his team needed him most.

Travis has started more games than any outfield player, but the midfielder won’t be complaining.

“I think it’s a credit to Lewis and his personality and his character,” Mowbray added. “I don’t know how he comes across when you interview him but he’s a very driven individual Lewis and the few times I have left him out this season he’s almost been hurt by it, as if he can’t understand it.

“But it has really sharpened him up and given him a focus. He doesn’t want to be left out, he doesn’t want to be rested.

“He doesn’t think he needs to do. His numbers in every game suggest he is their physically, covering the ground and doing what you would expect a midfield player to do.

“We’re all delighted Trav is here with us and he is player that is developing and getting stronger, growing and starting to understand his game.”