Rovers have shelved plans for Dan Butterworth to leave on loan in January following an injury to Dilan Markanday.

Tony Mowbray’s attacking options have been left depleted following the injury to January signing Markanday who is set to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his hamstring.

That came only a day after the 20-year-old secured a permanent move from Tottenham Hotspur.

Tyrhys Dolan faces up to another month out with a hamstring injury, while Ben Brereton misses his second match of the week against Luton Town due to his international commitments with Chile.

With Ian Poveda still on the club’s books but out injured and Bradley Dack still on the comeback trail after 10 months out with his second ACL injury, Rovers aren’t blessed with a host of options in attack.

That is something the club are looking to address before the transfer window closes on January 31.

However, with time tight, that is likely to mean Butterworth will be kept around the squad.

The 22-year-old made his 10th appearance of the season off the bench in the second half of the win over Middlesbrough.

Butterworth has been in the squad on 25 occasions this season, not involved on only three occasions, while he made his first Championship start in the October defeat at QPR.

He is up to 17 appearances since making his debut in August 2018 but has struggled since with two serious back injuries.

Rovers have turned down approaches previously from clubs looking to take Butterworth on loan but had looked set to give him the green light this month, only for Markanday’s injury to see that change.

Mowbray said: “Danny Butterworth I’d have liked to have sent him out this week but with Dilan’s injury that’s not now going to be the case.

“We have to keep going and we’ll see what this week brings.”

Mowbray is long-term admirer of Butterworth who has been a regular among the goals for Rovers Academy sides but has only managed 221 minutes across his 10 appearances this season.

Speaking last month, Mowbray said he understood the frustration of Butterworth at missing out on the squad for the 2-1 win over Barnsley following an impressive cameo against Birmingham City.

But he said that Butterworth needed to add the work ethic off the ball to match his talents on it.

“I know the frustration,” he explained.

“Yet he’s a young boy with lots to learn. I talk about work ethic, desire and commitment and he has to add a little bit more of that to the immense talent he’s got.

“Who’s to say he’s not the next 20-goal striker because he’s desperate to score, he wants to shoot, he’s a lad who lives for goals off either foot, electrically fast, I just need more of a desire to win the ball back and be part of a team that has a way of playing.”