Ben Brereton has been a miss for Rovers, according to Tony Mowbray, who hopes the attacker is around 10 days away from being in contention to return.

Brereton picked up a knee injury in the win over Millwall earlier this month, one that Rovers feared would keep the 21-year-old out for an extended period of time.

However, positive news arrived following a scan which said it would be a matter of weeks, not months, that Brereton would be out.

There are hopes he could be in line for a return against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day, if not then the trip to Huddersfield Town on December 29.

“I think Brereton has been a miss, I don’t know what other people think, but Brereton has been a miss, he’s been pretty good for us this year,” Mowbray said.

“He’s got some individuality, he can run with the ball, he can go past people, and I think he’s been a miss for us. He’s maybe 10 days away from being back.

“I think he brings directness, he has an amazing work ethic, he can travel with the ball and I think he has been a miss for us.”

Meanwhile, Derrick Williams is struggling once again with the quadricep injury that he had just returned from - and will see a specialist to determine how long he'll be out for.

The Irishman wasn’t in the squad to face Rotherham United on Wednesday night despite starting the defeats to Norwich City and Bristol City.

The game against his former club last week was his first appearance in five weeks since limping off against Middlesbrough in early November with a quadricep strain.

“It’s not particularly good news, Derrick has got an injury that will keep him out quite a while,” Mowbray said.

“He has an appointment with a specialist that will determine exactly how long.

“It’s a bit early for me to say, but it’s more long-term than short-term to be honest. I’m talking into the months rather than days or weeks.

“Huge credit to Derrick, he played with an injury, that was the players’ decision, and it probably hasn’t done him any favours, or us any favours long-term, because it now looks like it could keep him out for a sustained time.”