Rovers Under-23s will welcome back top scorer Connor McBride and full back Dan Pike into their squad for today’s Premier League 2 game with Southampton.

Ten-goal striker McBride and defender Pike missed the draw at Tottenham Hotspur last week due to their requirements for first-team duty.

The pair were on the bench for the defeat to Watford but the return to fitness of Darragh Lenihan and Tom Trybull saw the miss out against Coventry City and Reading.

Joe Rankin-Costello, who has played the last two Under-23s games, returned to the first-team squad for the weekend win at Millwall, as did goalscorer Sam Gallagher and Bradley Johnson, further boosting the options available to Tony Mowbray.

As a result, McBride and Pike are set to be back with Billy Barr’s Under-23s side who return to action this lunchtime when they host Southampton in a re-arranged fixture.

Rovers will be without central defender Sam Barnes who will miss the Saints visit because of suspension following his red card against Spurs, as both sides finished with 10 men in the 1-1 draw.

That is expected to see Jake Garrett, who has started the last two matches in midfield, drop back to partner Louie Annesley in the centre of defence.

Manchester City have moved five points clear at the top of the top of Premier League 2, with Rovers in second, two points clear of Manchester United in third, with a game in hand.

They welcome a Southampton side who are second bottom of the standings to the Lancashire FA headquarters on Monday (12pm).

Meanwhile, the Football Association have given the green light for the FA Youth Cup to resume.

Rovers, semi-finalists in last year’s competition, saw their scheduled fourth round tie against Arsenal postponed when the competition was paused in January.

Mike Sheron’s side beat Carlisle United 1-0 in round three, courtesy of a Georgie Gent strike, to secure a home tie against the young Gunners who they beat 4-1 in last season’s quarter final.

The Under-18s have enjoyed an upturn in form in 2021, winning their last four matches, including a 2-1 victory over East Lancashire rivals Burnley.

They will now host Arsenal in the Youth Cup fourth round at Brockhall on Saturday, March 20.