Rovers have suffered more defensive injury woe – with the club also concerned by a possible punctured lung sustained by Sam Gallagher in the defeat at Nottingham Forest.

Gallagher was taken to hospital for an X-ray amid concerns he had suffered a punctured lung after falling awkwardly during the first half.

The 25-year-old, starting his fourth consecutive match, was replaced at the break after concerns during the interval, with the club doctor taking the decision that Gallagher should be taken to hospital.

Darragh Lenihan out with a rib injury, while Ryan Nyambe was forced off late on by a hamstring injury.

Asked for an injury update, Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I’m more concerned about Sam Gallagher who has gone to hospital for an X-ray on a potential punctured lung, he was coughing up blood at half time.

“He fell flat on his back, it wasn’t nice to see at half time him coughing up blood, the doctor got involved and he was taken to hospital awaiting an X-ray.”

Adam Armstrong took over the captain’s armband as central defender Lenihan missed out for just a third match this season.

That meant Rovers were without four senior central defenders, with Daniel Ayala, Derrick Williams and Scott Wharton also sidelined, as Mowbray turned to loanees Jarrad Branthwaite and Taylor Harwood-Bellis as his central defensive partnership.

Mowbray said: “Lenihan has a rib issue. He’s had a scan to see if there’s a fracture. It doesn’t look as though there is, just some pretty severe bruising of his ribs.”

Barry Douglas has sustained a knock which saw him drop out of the side, but injuries elsewhere in the squad, with Bradley Johnson, Lewis Holtby and Tom Trybull also out injured, meant the Scot was named among the substitutes.

Nyambe missed out against Barnsley, not included in the squad, but was back in the starting line-up at the City Ground.

He won the second half penalty, from which Adam Armstrong was denied by Brice Samba, but suffered a hamstring strain in the closing stages which Rovers fear could see him sidelined for an extended period.

“We’re worried about Nyambe, a player who we have spoken about a lot this week, he excessively works extraordinarily hard, he needed a break and then it seems the world is questioning why he isn’t playing and then here he is, he might be out for months,” Mowbray added.

“You have to protect players and people should let the manager manage.

“I understand, we have some issues moving forward and some players with pretty severe injuries so let’s see what the next game brings.”