Rovers defender Derrick Williams has undergone surgery on his quadricep and is set for an extended period out.

Tony Mowbray said the central defender faces ‘months not weeks’ out of the side after suffering a recurrence of the injury he first sustained in October.

Williams was back in the side for the defeats against Bristol City and Norwich City but didn’t appear in the squad for the home win over Rotherham United as Daniel Ayala was recalled.

Mowbray revealed that scans showed the injury was worse than initially feared, prompting Williams to see a specialist, and subsequently surgery has taken place.

Lancashire Telegraph:

It is a blow for the 27-year-old who had endured a tough year, not making his first league appearance of 2020 until the opening day of the season, starting 10 matches in all before his latest injury blow.

It comes after Rovers were hit with the news that Scott Wharton is set to miss the remainder of the season with an Achilles injury, while Daniel Ayala has been struggling with a bruised foot of late.

The injury concerns in defence could see Rovers enter the market for a new defender when the transfer window re-opens next month, with Bradley Johnson having started in the defeat at Stoke City alongside captain Darragh Lenihan.

Speaking last week of Williams, Mowbray said: “It’s not particularly good news, Derrick has got an injury that will keep him out quite a while.

“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.”