Tony Mowbray says Jacob Davenport and Harry Chapman will remain with the Under-23s for the foreseeable future to further build up their fitness.

The pair will both play for Damien Johnson’s side in tomorrow night’s Premier League Cup group game at Doncaster Rovers, in an XI that is likely to include Ben Brereton and Joe Nuttall.

Chapman made his first appearance for the Under-23s in last week’s defeat at Everton, playing 56 minutes, while midfielder Davenport, made his fifth appearance, after a season of injury struggles since signing from Manchester City.

Brereton, aged 19, is yet to score since his summer move from Nottingham Forest, and with the full support of his manager, could be part of Johnson’s side at the Keepmoat Stadium.

The forward has started just three Championship matches for Rovers since his big money move in August, and could play tomorrow night in a bid to build his confidence having been an unused substitute on Saturday.

He could be part of an attacking line-up which includes Davenport, Chapman, Nuttall and Dan Butterworth who travelled with the squad to Birmingham City, despite not making the matchday 18.

On Davenport and Chapman, Mowbray said: “They need to get 90 minutes. There’s a process of building up to that.

“Chappy came to us way, way down on where his physical stats needed to be. There’s a process of building him up.

“Jacob, psychologically, is a young kid who’s been injured for a long time now. Every time he was getting back on the pitch he was getting injured again.

“I think we have to be patient with Jacob. When I’ve watched him play the last few games I think he’s done okay, but seems like a young guy who is making sure he’s not getting clobbered, he’s just getting himself through.

“He understands he doesn’t have to be at full pelt at the moment, he needs to get some game-time under his belt and feel more robust and get ready to be the player we know he is. The plan is for them to both continue getting game-time, strengthen up, acclimatise to getting back on the grass and playing.”

Rovers know a win at the Keepmoat Stadium (7pm) will ensure qualification for the knockout stages.

Twenty-one-year-old Chapman signed for Rovers from Middlesbrough last month, after struggles with hamstring injuries over the course of the last 18 months.

Mowbray added: “Chapman, it would be interesting to know the last time he played 90 minutes, a long, long time ago I would suggest, a few years maybe. It’s a process he has to go through.

“We’re patient enough, I’m not sat here clamouring for Harry Chapman to be a saviour for us or anything. He’s just a young boy that has talent that we know and we’ve seen.

“The test for Harry is that this is the next division up from when he last played for us. Can he do it against Championship defenders who might be faster, better game knowledge, and that’s the test for him as a young player when his opportunity comes, whenever that might be?”