After 330 days on the sidelines, Bradley Dack was back in action in a behind closed doors game at Brockhall today.

It was his first action since sustaining an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury against Wigan in December for which he underwent surgery, with the attacker coming through 45 minutes against Sheffield United this afternoon.

It has been a long road back for the 26-year-old who returned to training earlier this month and will now build-up his fitness in a bid to push for first-team involvement once again.

Manager Tony Mowbray and his coaching staff will urge caution with Dack, not least because of the length of time he has been out, but also the possibility of niggling muscle injuries as he steps up the intensity of his work.

But the sight of the club’s star man being back in Rovers colours for the first time in almost 11 months will be a welcome sight for supporters who are itching to see him back in action.

 

 

A decision will now be taken as to Dack’s next involvement, with at least two outings expected for the Under-23s before being included back in the first-team squad.

Billy Barr’s side travel to Brighton on Monday, though a lengthy coach trip south wouldn’t be the ideal scenario for Dack, meaning next Friday’s game against Everton at Leyland may well be deemed more suitable.

The Under-23s then have three fixtures next month, including a home match against Tottenham on December 7.

John Buckley and Jalil Saadi were on target in a 2-2 draw against the Blades.

Other positives from the afternoon were a run-out for Stewart Downing (60 minutes) and returns for Amari'i Bell and Barry Douglas after both had been forced to self-isolate. The pair both played 45 minutes each.