Tony Mowbray says the Rovers attackers waiting in the wings all face different challenges in a bid to force their way into the side.

Top scorer Ben Brereton, Tyrhys Dolan and Sam Gallagher have the three attacking slots nailed down for now having contributed goals and assists in the early weeks of the season.

That trio look set to start at Bloomfield Road today, but with Gallagher having struggled with a groin issue, and Brereton’s quarantine requirements on his return from international duty set to see him miss the visit of Coventry City on October 16, Mowbray says those waiting for an opportunity will get their chance soon.

And he says it is then down to them to show they merit more regular game-time.

Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I think it’s important we have these attacking options. They’re waiting in the wings and there will be an opportunity for one of them in particular after Ben’s quarantine.”

Dan Butterworth has been frustrated with his lack of opportunities since a game-changing display off the bench against Hull City – but Tony Mowbray is treading carefully with the young attacker.

Butterworth starred off the bench in the win over Hull City last month but has been unused in the matches since, with Ian Poveda and Reda Khadra preferred against Huddersfield Town in midweek.

Mowbray sees different options in all three, feeling Butterworth is better suited to a more central role. He would have started against Luton Town last month had Ben Brereton not been cleared to play, but his wait for a chance from the off goes on, with the 22-year-old having made eight appearances off the bench since his debut in August 2018.

Two serious back injuries have stunted Butterworth’s progress, and Mowbray still feels he is working his way up to full fitness.

He said: “Danny, I think he needs to play as a No.9 or No.10, play in the central areas to get the best out of him.

“He’s had his injury problems over the last couple of years and the aerobic side of the game, running up and down chasing full backs, isn’t necessarily at this moment something he would relish doing.

“The dynamic nature of his game, bursting past centre halves, is important for him.

“He’s had a lot of injuries over the last couple of years and we have to be careful with him.

“He gets a bit frustrated when he’s not selected because he did make a big impact against Hull City and we were all delighted for him, but football doesn’t quite work like that because you did well in one game you’re going to be the sub every week, the game will dictate whether we need him or not.

“He needs to be an option for us and hopefully he does well when his next opportunity comes.”

Brighton loanee Khadra has now been used off the bench in four successive matches having had injury problems of his own this summer which delayed the 20-year-old’s move to Rovers.

He has played from the left so far, and Mowbray has hinted he would be the man to take advantage should Sam Gallagher not be passed fit for today’s game, with the attacker having struggled with groin issues of late which forced him to miss training on Thursday.

“Khadra can play off both sides, I think his preference is off the left so he can cut inside and drive inside towards the goal and play with the striker and look to get shots away,” Mowbray said.

“If Gallagher doesn’t make it, those are the decisions whether Khedra is ready. He’s shown enough that he can impact football matches, it’s just the aerobic capacity of playing 90 minutes at the intensity of the Championship that we’re asking them to play at and I’m not sure he’s quite got that in his locker.

“That’s why every day after training he’s away with the sports scientists doing extra drills, getting himself up to speed as quickly as he can.”

Ian Poveda has started twice for Rovers, including on his debut at Middlesbrough, but failed to make an impact in the 0-0 draw at Barnsley where he was replaced by Khadra, and went unused in the 5-1 win over Cardiff City.

The 21-year-old did miss games with Luton Town and Hull City because of injury, but Mowbray doesn’t have any concerns over the fitness of the Leeds United loanee, but feels he is still coming to terms with the demands being asked of him.

He added: “Poveda can play off the right coming in on his right foot, he can also play behind the striker, he just wants the ball at his feet and tries to make things happen.

“He can run all day, that’s not a problem for him, it’s just putting him in the team so he understands the demands and the work ethic that’s required.”

Poveda and Khadra, as well as Liverpool loanee Leighton Clarkson, were sent on as Rovers looked for a winner at Huddersfield Town in midweek. However, a lapse in concentration at the back cost them as they fell to a late defeat, their first away from home this season.

Mowbray, who will welcome Bradley Johnson back into the squad this afternoon, said he analysed his decisions in the wake of the Huddersfield defeat, not least opting for Clarkson over Tayo Edun when Joe Rothwell went down injured, but felt going for the more attacking option was the right call.

He said: “I sat down and concentrated on the decisions I made, I could easily beat myself up and put Tayo on rather than Leighton because a more robust, destructive player than a talented player because in my mind we were going to go on and win the game rather than it be it 2-2 and I felt we were in the ascendancy.

“I put a footballer on who could play quality balls forward, but the outcome was they broke away and scored, but we should have defended better and I wasn’t sure it was a midfield issue.You always have those decisions to make on what type of footballer.”