Tony Mowbray cast his mind forward to the summer, and Ryan Nyambe’s contractual situation, when discussing the injury to the Rovers right back.

Nyambe left the field on a stretcher in the second half of the win over QPR, with initial diagnosis being that he has sustained damage to his medial knee ligament.

Scans will reveal the extent of that, but the injury could be set to sideline the 24-year-old for up to eight weeks.

Nyambe has started 26 of the 27 matches he has been available for this season and has been a regular throughout Mowbray's tenure, Saturday’s game his 150th Championship appearance.

However, he looks set to leave the club in the summer, with negotiations having broken down between the club and his representatives as his current deal runs down.

Nyambe will be able to leave on a free transfer once his contract expires, with no compensation due to Rovers due to his age.

And while Mowbray will want Nyambe back as soon as possible given his value to the team, he knows there is a bigger picture in play for the Namibia international over his long-term future.

“Let’s hope it’s not a bad one, but it looks like the inside of his knee, his medial knee ligament, and usually that is six to eight weeks,” Mowbray told the club website.

“Fingers crossed for Ryan that it’s only a few weeks and if it’s a bit longer then so be it.

“What Ryan needs for Ryan’s sake is to be fit for the summer.

“He’s a young guy who’s out of contract and doesn’t look like he’s going to re-engage with the football club so for Ryan he needs to be fit in the summer wherever he wants to go.”

Nyambe is one of three regular first-team players out of contract in the summer, with captain Darragh Lenihan and midfielder Joe Rothwell the others.

Rothwell missed the QPR win due to bruising on his foot, an injury Rovers hope will clear up ahead of the weekend visit to Fulham.