Ben Brereton is ‘back in business’ and ready to start Rovers’ Good Friday game with Norwich City.

Jon Dahl Tomasson has confirmed the 14-goal top scorer is available to be used from the start after overcoming the knock sustained on international duty with Chile.

Brereton was only on the bench at Birmingham City last weekend, coming on for the final quarter as Rovers tried to find a way back into the game after going behind.

Ideally Tomasson wouldn’t have used either Brereton or Bradley Dack at St Andrew’s, but both were sent on with Rovers trailing.

Dack was involved in a behind-closed-doors friendly last weekend, playing 60 minutes, though Tomasson admits he is still short of match fitness.

He looks set to be involved again in the matchday squad against Norwich, as Rovers bid to get back to winning ways.

“Ayala is back on the grass but not ready,” Tomasson said, delivering the team news. “He is working hard to be part of the end of the season.

“Jack is a question mark over whether he will be around at the end of the season. “Buckley is out for the season but is working hard to be ready for next season.

“Batty is out with a concussion so we are following the protocol.” “Ben is back in business, Dack played 60 minutes in an internal game and is still not 100 per cent but let’s wait and see.

“The rest are ready to go.”

Brereton has only started two of Rovers’ last six matches, having struggled with fitness either side of the international break and also suspended for the FA Cup win at Leicester City. But Tomasson declared: “He will be able to start.

“I would probably have left both at home but Ben is ready and that’s nice.”

Tomasson has continued to utilise his squad throughout the season, both in first-team games and for the Under-21s.

A friendly was arranged for Sunday for those who were short of minutes, of which Dack played an hour, while several of the squad featured for Mike Sheron’s side during the international break.

Tomasson says he has seen the benefits of that approach, with players looking fresh even on the back of the 47 games already played this season.

He added: “At the end of the season you can have tired players and players who aren’t up to speed.

“When some are tired and you have players who aren’t up to speed then it’s difficult to perform.

“We all want one thing and that’s the players performing to help Rovers.

“It’s been of course a part of keeping everyone up to speed and being ready to play when they are needed, and also making sure they’re not playing too much.

“If you’re not used to playing 46 games a year then you should definitely not play 46 games a year because you will get injured.

“Also the next thing is to develop youngsters within our surrounding and environment.”

Using senior players so regularly within the Under-21s, and also the number of internal and behind-closed-doors games, has been a feature of Tomasson’s management, something supporters, as well as players, have had to get accustomed to.

Asked if he’s seeing the benefits, he said: “For sure. I have a big understanding on doing that way of things.

“When you do things new people have to get used to them at the beginning but I think everyone understands the value of it.

“We are also a club that needs to create value so if you’re a young player who’s not playing at all then it’s not healthy.

“They will play plenty of games to develop their skills, whether that be Under-21s games, internal games or a friendly against another side.”