Jacob Davenport has had a number of false starts at Rovers in his two years at the club.

Signed as a teenager on a four-year deal from Manchester City, Davenport has managed just 109 minutes of first-team action, in an injury-hit time at Ewood Park.

A hip-flexor problem picked up in a pre-season friendly at Accrington Stanley in 2018, and then groin tear, kept him out for much of last season, eventually making his debut on the final day against Swansea City.

A bad tackle in a behind closed doors friendly in July 2019 kept him out for the early part of this campaign, but a sustained run in the Under-23s side has put him in first-team contention.

The central midfielder has been included in the Rovers squad for nine of their last 13 Championship matches, featuring off the bench in each of the last three.

A start has proved elusive so far, but with first choice midfield pair Corry Evans and Lewis Travis struggling with toe and knee injuries respectively, Davenport’s time could well be coming.

“I think I just need games, I feel ready now. I’ve been fit since October or November so feeling fit and ready to go,” he said. “I hope I get that chance soon.

“There’s been a few injuries, that’s normal after we’ve come back in the circumstances.

“We’re looking to be a lot more possession-based which suits my game, so hopefully I can get in there and show what I can do.”

He was Mowbray’s second signing after promotion, having finished the 2017/18 season on loan at Burton Albion in the Championship.

With still another two years left to run on his contract, time is on Davenport’s side, but Mowbray admits the 21-year-old is eager to prove himself as a Championship player.

Asked if his time was now, Mowbray said: “At some stage. He’s a young guy who has to overcome his injuries and the mental scars that might have put on him,.

“He came here to play, to make an impression and become a Championship player and he hasn’t been able to do that.

“All the decisions get made on merit and the one that was made on the opening game after lockdown was Travis and Evans, but they are both unavailable.

“We’re looking for other options. We’ve got (Bradley) Johnson, we’ve got (Stewart) Downing and  we’ve got Davenport.”

Back-to-back defeats have dented Rovers’ hope of a top six finish, but things haven’t been plain sailing for the league leaders. Leeds have taken four points from their three games so far, beaten by Cardiff City and held by relegation-threatened Luton in midweek, having been fellow promotion rivals Fulham in between.

Reflecting on Rovers’ recent results, Davenport said: “It’s been disappointing, two games that we’ve looked at where we were hoping to get six points from.

“We got off to a good start, the last two games haven’t gone as we’d have wanted, but hopefully we can get the win on Saturday having beaten them last season at home.”