Timescale for Blackburn Rovers player after long absence

The winger has not played a competitive game since October after a thigh injury ruled him out for an initial 12 weeks. He then returned earlier this year but suffered a setback playing for the Under-21s.

A hamstring injury then followed in pre-season, leaving everyone frustrated.

Mowbray hopes he can be eased back into action after the international break after a long period on the sidelines.

"I'd still say at least a few weeks, maybe three or four weeks, I think," he said.

"So maybe after this international break, because it's a three-week international break, he will definitely be back on the grass; he will definitely be training with the group.

"What I can't guarantee is that the first time he sprints down that left wing and tries to go past his man, he doesn't pull up again.

"I'm not really a religious man, but I have faith and I pray for him that he stays fit and he shows us all what he can bring because he's got a lovely, bouncy personality and obviously he's lightning fast.

"He needs to stay fit. I don't want to preach to him, it's not my industry, the health side of it, but he's got to live properly, he's got to eat properly, he's got to sleep properly, he's got to drink properly.

"He's got to do everything on the training ground that the specialists and the experts tell him, and he has to try and get back on the grass and be a footballer and show everybody what he's all about.

"He would be a big help, and so instead of bringing on a young boy for his debut, we bring Kargbo on on the left wing and he's tearing down that wing and the full back's terrorised.

"That's how it would start for because you don't just bring him back and throw him straight in for 90 minutes. You put him on the bench and you give him the last 20 or the last 10.

"I'm looking forward to the day he's back on the bench with a Blackburn Rovers shirt on because he might have that little bit of magic.

"I know his main attribute is speed and I do think this team is a little bit short of genuine speed to break away teams and hurt them in the transition when we win the ball back from the halfway line and sprint away and score.

"So I'm looking forward to him and I know the fans will be. I would suggest potentially think about after the international break and he won't be too far away."

Hayden Carter played the final half hour at Deepdale under doctor's instructions and will be managed carefully, with Tom Atcheson back from suspension.

Kristi Montgomery filled in at centre-back on Saturday and Mowbray felt he did well in a new role.

"Atcheson only had a one-match suspension so he'll be ready for Tuesday," he explained.

"Wharton's been training for the last week, we saw Hayden Carter was on the bench today but under the orders really, he could only play 20-30 minutes maximum.

"There's a danger of him breaking down so we've been stretched at that position.

"I thought Kirsti did fine today. I don't blame him for the two goals we lost, I just thought it was pretty unlikely to lose such soft goals.

"He's a good pro, he's a good lad, he's got mobility, he's six foot, he's alright; it's brand new for him, of course.

"I thought to play three defenders rather than two when you're playing Montgomery there and yet we haven't played a bad three this season. We haven't done a day's training on it.

"I generally am principle-based and it doesn't matter to me what formation you play, whether you play back four, back five or back three, it doesn't matter.

"You're playing with the ball, you're trying to go through the opposition and as long as you've got wits in certain aspects of the game it's okay."