Tony Mowbray has ruled Thomas Kaminski out of Rovers’ trip to Bournemouth.

The positive for Rovers is the return of defender Daniel Ayala, who has missed the last two matches with a rolled ankle, and Sam Gallagher who has been absent from the previous five fixtures with a calf problem.

Kaminski missed his first match of the season last time out as Aynsley Pears deputised for the 1-0 win over Preston North End.

That followed a stomach muscle problem sustained by the Belgian in the win at Stoke City and while scans have shown minor damage, his absence will extend to a second week.

As a result, manager Mowbray expects Kaminski to be back for the game with Birmingham City next weekend.

He said: “Ayala and Gallagher are both back on the training ground and will travel with the team.

“Thomas, I’ve had a chat with him, and we’ve come to the decision that we’ll give him another week, don’t take any gambles, any risks.

“I think it’s the type of injury that if it was the last game of the season, or a cup final, he could probably play but let’s not strain his muscle that will put him out for six to eight weeks.

“He’s feeling the improvement, the discomfort he’s had is softening off so another week, fingers crossed he’ll be ready.”

Ayala came off against Peterborough United with a rolled ankle and has missed the two matches since, while Gallagher hasn’t been seen since coming off in the win at Derby County on October 30.

The pair will strengthen a Rovers squad that has been in fine form of late, winning six of their last eight matches to move up to fourth in the division.

“They’re good headaches (to have), every manager understands that it’s your job to make decisions,” Mowbray said.

“There will be some tough decisions along the way, particularly if the team are doing well and the lads who’ve been in and around have been working hard it becomes more difficult to make those calls.

“They have to be made, it’s all about the team.”

Their returns to the squad will see two players miss out at the Vitality Stadium, with Mowbray having already begun conversations with those who will not make the matchday 18.

“I started those conversations coming off the training ground. As long as they have clarity on where they are, what the future is,” Mowbray added.

“What do they do, they either get angry, frustrated and abusive and push themselves further away from the team or they understand the dilemmas of the manager?

“Some of the lads are doing well and whenever they have been called upon they’ve done really, yet at this moment when the team are winning you just can’t get them in the team.

“You get Ayala and Gallagher back and they have to be in and around this team so someone has to slide off and those are the tough calls.

“They have to understand it’s not the end that they might not be on the bench this weekend you just have to keep working hard, train, do what you are good at and grasp.”

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