Harry Leonard is getting the chance to impress Jon Dahl Tomasson every day in training, as the head coach insisted: ‘he’s a player with potential’.

Leonard scored twice within five minutes of coming on in Rovers Under-21s’ Premier League Cup win at Huddersfield Town B on Tuesday night.

Tomasson and his first-team coaching staff watched on at the John Smith’s Stadium as all seven substitutes from Monday night’s Championship fixture were involved.

Callum Brittain also made his return from injury after two months out on what proved a useful exercise for Tomasson, with Tyler Morton and Sam Gallagher on the scoresheet.

But it was Leonard’s double, which takes him to 15 goals for the Academy team, that had supporters talking given the struggles in attack at first-team level.

Rovers’ failure to add a striker on deadline day has raised the prospect of Leonard becoming more involved in the final 17 games of the season.

He featured in pre-season, and has stayed training with the first-team every day since, which has also seen him be on the bench for two FA Cup ties.

Rovers have scored only 31 times in their 29 Championship games, with Jack Vale, who has started the three last three league games, yet to open his league account.

Ben Brereton and Gallagher haven’t scored since the World Cup break, while Dilan Markanday left the club on loan last month.

On Leonard, Tomasson said: “First of all I brought him to the first-team like I did with Adam Wharton, Ashley Phillips and Jake Garrett, and other players, the teenagers who have already had starts.

“We look at Harry’s development the whole time and he’s a player with potential for sure. He’s improving.

“Is he good enough to be leading Rovers each week? Of course not at that age, but he’s working hard and becoming better."

Tomasson was frustrated by Rovers’ lack of activity in the January window, but must come up with a solution from within in the remainder of the season. 

Vale has led the line in the last three league games with Gallagher having finished 2022 as Rovers’ preferred striker.

Tomasson is a striking option light after George Hirst’s departure, though the Leicester City loanee did only start three Championship matches in the first half of the season. 

There is the option for Tyrhys Dolan to play as the central striker, a role he did in the win at Norwich City on December 17, but an injury four days later ruled that out in the following matches.