Dilan Markanday moved to the next stage of his recovery yesterday – with Tony Mowbray holding a hope that the January signing could yet feature this season.

It would however, likely need Rovers to make it into the play-offs if Markanday is to be involved again after undergoing hamstring surgery in January.

He sustained the injury on his debut at Hull City, the day after joining for a six-figure fee from Tottenham Hotspur, and was expected to miss the remainder of the season.

Markanday is still some way off returning to full training, but having been back on the pitches with the medical staff yesterday, Mowbray says there is an outside chance of featuring again this season should Rovers make the top six and extend the season beyond May 7.

“Markanday has started his grass rehabilitation, bit by bit,” Mowbray revealed.

“There’s a fair chance he will be available, four to six weeks he should be ready.

“That will be about the end of the season.

“Hopefully the season gets prolonged for us, let’s wait and see.

“For the boy he just has to get himself fit and when he’ll be available, he’ll be available.

“His summer will be more enjoyable if he’s fit and can do some extra work and be ready for pre-season.”

Markanday was Rovers’ main addition in January, signed on a long-term deal for a fee in the region of £500,000.

Excitement greeted his signing, having turned down the offer of a new deal at Spurs, where he had starred for their Under-23s side, to make the move to Ewood Park.

However, he picked up the injury in the closing stages of the defeat at Hull City, 24 hours after his arrival had been confirmed, with scans revealing damage to his hamstring that required surgery.

His injury came at the same time as both Ian Poveda and Tyrhys Dolan were out injured, and while the latter has now returned, Ben Brereton added his name to the absentee list a month later, and now hasn’t featured since the 0-0 draw at West Brom on February 14.

Reda Khadra will hope to avoid adding his name to that list as Rovers wait on news from a scan on his calf that forced him off in the defeat at Reading.

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