Lewis Holtby has been granted extra time in Germany with his wife and new-born daughter which will rule him out of this weekend’s visit of Nottingham Forest.

The midfielder has spent time in his native Germany with his wife and daughter who was born last Saturday and is yet to return to England.

Tony Mowbray says he has the blessing of the club to do so, and won’t need to quarantine upon his return with Germany not under any travel restrictions.

The manager told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I don’t think Holtby will be available.

“As you know I’m very family orientated, and I’m aware this is a business, and we’re a football club that needs to win games, but I want Lewis to know that we all here want him to make sure that his family is safe and secure and when he feels his wife and his newborn daughter are safe in a secure environment and surrounded by family then he’ll get on an aeroplane and come back.”

Meanwhile, Elliott Bennett has added to Rovers’ injury list with the club captain set to miss the remainder of 2020 with an ankle problem.

Bennett picked up the injury in training earlier this week, damaging his ankle ligaments, and that could require surgery which will rule him out for a number of weeks.

His versatility, and leadership skills, are a key asset to Mowbray’s squad but he joins the injury list that already includes Bradley Dack and Lewis Travis.

Bennett has managed just 11 minutes of football this season, but has featured in every matchday squad up to now.

“When I look at the numbers, without any signings, we’d probably have to register two youth players to fill our bench up,” Mowbray added.

“Elliott Bennett has damaged his ankle ligaments in training so he’ll be missing.

“He damaged his ankle ligaments, it won’t be a few weeks, it will be more substantial.

“Derrick is going to be missing. We’re pretty light on numbers.”

The good news for Rovers is that Darragh Lenihan, who was worn the armband when Bennett hasn’t been in the side, should be fit enough to return.

The Irishman missed the 0-0 draw with Cardiff City with a groin injury sustained in training that also ruled him out of international duty.

He should take his place in the centre of defence alongside Daniel Ayala who deputised for him in the Bluebirds draw.

That comes as Derrick Williams, who has started all four Championship matches thus far, remains in Ireland self-isolating after coronavirus issues swept the Republic of Ireland squad during his time away on international duty.

“Darragh is back training, he’s an important player for us at this moment, particularly if Derrick is unavailable,” Mowbray said.

“Daniel is important to us, Scotty Wharton is important, and we have some young centre backs at this club.

“We’re okay in that position at this moment.”

Travis and Dack are longer-term injury concerns for Rovers who will be without Joe Rankin-Costello for a second successive match.

But the 21-year-old is nearing a return from the hamstring injury he picked up in the win over Derby on September 26.

“Not close enough for this weekend,” Mowbray said of Rankin-Costello.

“He’s not far away, he’s back on the grass working with the physio department but won’t make this weekend.”