Harry Chapman is expected to be given another run-out for the Under-23s next week as Rovers continue with caution over any possible first team involvement.

Chapman is working to his own fitness programme in a bid to get him up to speed after his January move from Middlesbrough, and he played 56 minutes for Damien Johnson’s side in Monday’s defeat to Everton.

Tony Mowbray was in the stands to watch Chapman in action, as well as midfielder Jacob Davenport, who came through 77 minutes in his second outing of 2019 as he waits to make an impact on the senior side after joining from Manchester City last summer.

Chapman is keen to get at least one full game under his belt before any first team involvement.

The Under-23s are in Premier League Cup action at Doncaster on Monday, and asked of the possible involvement of Chapman and Davenport, Johnson said: “I’m guided by the manager and the sports science team.

“They are on training programmes to build up their training time and match minutes.

“I’ll be guided by the manager and the other departments.”

Rovers will be cautious with Chapman who has played just five competitive fixtures this season for Middlesbrough.

He played 16 times during a loan spell at Ewood in 2016/17 but has suffered three separate hamstring injuries since last turning out for Rovers at Wigan in October 2017.

He broke down during a previous outing for Rovers Under-23s at Aston Villa in March 2018, but came through Monday’s 2-0 defeat without reaction.

Chapman endured a frustrating night, booked in the first half for a foul, and was substituted moments after shooting over the bar after a neat piece of individual skill.

“He’s trained really well to be honest. He got re-tested the other day and his numbers are fantastically better than they were the day we tested him when he signed,” Mowbray said.

“So his hamstrings are much more proportionate to each other, regarding their strength, and the numbers of his running tests were much higher, so he’s about ready.

“It’s too risky to throw him into a scenario for us at the moment because when he plays for our first team he has to be at full pelt.

“That hamstring needs protecting and looking after and strengthening. At the moment there’s an imbalance - a weakness in one hamstring and we need to work on that and strengthen it, along with his training, where he can manage himself.”