Bradley Johnson’s run of consecutive starts is under threat after he limped out of the win at Middlesbrough in the early stages.

Johnson has started 11 consecutive Championship games for Rovers but lasted just eight minutes at the Riverside when replaced by John Buckley.

The 33-year-old pulled up, and was taken off following consultation with the medical staff, following an early break forward from his midfield position.

Rovers were already without Lewis Holtby, the German midfielder missing with a groin problem, with both players now being assessed.

Amari’i Bell was back among the subs after missing out against Stoke City, but there was no Elliott Bennett as he continues his comeback from an ankle injury.

The club captain trained last week after three months out with an ankle injury and is in line to play for the Under-23s at Manchester City tonight.

While the game will come too soon for Corry Evans he is recovering well from the hamstring injury sustained against QPR in November, and trained with the squad last week.  Joe Rankin-Costello is further back in his recovery from his respective hamstring injury.

“Johnson has got a hamstring injury, Holtby has got a thigh strain,” Mowbray revealed.

“Corry Evans is nearly ready, Elliott Bennett is nearly ready, Elliott will probably play at Manchester City in the Under-23s, as will Dolan and others who have sat on our bench recently.

“Holtby’s is a thigh strain and Johnno has done his hamstring so we won’t know until he’s been for a scan.”

Rovers were readying a triple change moments before Joe Rothwell scored what proved to be the only goal, turning home a Harvey Elliott cross.

Mowbray carried out the change, with both players replaced, as was Buckley, and Rovers finished the game much the stronger and could have won by more than the 1-0 scoreline.

Mowbray said: “We could have scored again. Middlesbrough were pushing us back, we didn’t have the legs other than Armstrong, Harvey Elliott was starting to run out of legs, Rothwell was stretching his hamstrings, and I thought it was time for Gallagher and Brereton to come on and Dack to get on the ball.

“We then had a threat over the top and a threat into feet and we didn’t suffer huge pressure in that last 15 or 20 minutes. If anything we were going to break away and score again.”