Jacob Davenport has endured a frustrating start to life at Rovers, and boss Tony Mowbray admits the midfielder is running out of time to feature for the first team this season.

Davenport was the club’s first summer signing when joining from Manchester City on a four year deal. He played in all but one of Rovers’ pre-season friendlies, but bar three outings for the Under-23s, is yet to feature since July.

Troubled by first a hip-flexor problem, and then a thigh injury, Davenport is working hard to get himself up to speed.

Not training with the first team yet, Mowbray admits the outlook doesn’t look promising for a swift return to action for the 20-year-old, despite his great efforts behind the scenes.

Though the boss remains confident Davenport, who spent part of last season on loan at Burton Albion, will prove to be a fine addition to the squad.

“He’s still a couple of weeks away,”Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“For Jacob it’s a disappointing story for him. He’s so football driven and yet the inability, through his injuries, to perform and get game-time, is disappointing for him.

“I would have to say now, with a few months left of the season, it’s going to be difficult for him to get up to speed in a period of time to impact largely on the season.

“He needs to get himself fit and available and will need to play some Under-23s games back-to-back for maybe a month or so and get up to speed.

“It’s tough for him because I see him every day working for hours and hours, hours after the players who are playing have gone home he’s still here working in the gym on his body and in the treatment room.

“It’s long days for players coming back from long-term injuries and it’s been a difficult time for Jacob, but he will come out the other end of it and show everyone what a talented boy he is I’m sure.”

There was better news on the injury front however surrounding attacking midfielder Ben Gladwin.

The 26-year-old, whose deal at Ewood Park expires in the summer, hasn’t kicked a ball since November 2017 following two separate knee injuries.

Mowbray revealed in August that he didn’t expect Gladwin to feature this season, but to his credit, the former QPR and Swindon man is ahead of schedule with his rehabilitation.

He is yet to join in with the squad in training, but Mowbray hopes a smooth transition from the physio team to first team can see him push forward quickly.

“He’s on the grass, not training with our group, but he’s out there with his boots on and I see him dribbling, passing and shooting,” Mowbray added.

“That’s way before what I thought he would be able to get his boots back on and that’s great credit to him how hard he’s worked behind the scenes.

“All that sort of stuff goes on at football club and players long after hours working in the gym trying to build their bodies up and become robust.

“Ben deserves a lot of credit for building himself up and getting to where he has so quickly. Fingers crossed for him that it’s a smooth run to getting himself fit and joining back in.”

Dominic Samuel is Rovers’ other long-term absentee. The striker underwent surgery in September on a knee ligament injury sustained in August which is set to keep him out for the season.