Sam Gallagher missed the win over Hull City with a thigh injury – though Tony Mowbray doesn’t expect to be without the striker for any extended period of time.

Gallagher’s ever-present run in the side came to an end as Rovers picked up a third victory of the season against Hull City, with Daniel Ayala and Ben Brereton on target.

Brereton started in the central striking role in the absence of Gallagher who had led the line in the draw at Middlesbrough, where he scored his second of the season, and in the weekend draw with Luton Town.

Mowbray says Gallagher has been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks and has had his training time reduced in a bid to keep him involved on matchdays for as long as possible.

“I don’t think it’s too bad. He’s had his thigh strapped up for the last three weeks, it’s just an accumulation of games,” Mowbray said.

“His thigh was too tight, too sore, despite trying to take the workload out of him.

“It’s a difficult task because some days we are training with very few numbers because you’re wanting to protect the players because they might get injured and you need them for Saturday.

“Sam was falling into that category, along with Daniel and a few others, but I hope he won’t be too long.”

Gallagher was one of eight players missing for the game against Hull City though Mowbray is hoping that figure will reduce significantly in the coming games, with Tayo Edun, Joe Rankin-Costello, Bradley Johnson and Ian Poveda all on the comeback trail.