Tony Mowbray believes the strength of Rovers’ squad is clouded by the fact that their current injury problems have all come in one position.

Rovers have three central defenders currently sidelined through injury, though those issues should all be cleared up when they travel to Aston Villa after the international break.

Full back Amari’i Bell is a doubt for tomorrow’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday, while Derrick Williams has only just returned from a two match suspension.

In the midfield and forward areas, the likes of Joe Rothwell, Craig Conway and Ben Brereton have struggled for opportunities this season, while Mowbray has also rotated his central midfielders of late.

And the boss said: “If you think that Rothwell and Conway have struggled for game-time this season, that would suggest we’ve been okay in those sorts of areas.

“I have generally gone with Reed and Armstrong so it’s been difficult for those players to get opportunities.

“In central midfield I played (Lewis) Travis and (Harrison) Reed the other night and (Corry) Evans and (Richie) Smallwood sat out, so there is competition for places in other areas.

“It’s just at this moment that central defence is a problem area for us.

“It will be something we will try and strengthen in the summer. We coped alright the other night, kept a clean sheet.

“That’s what you have to do, trust your players.”

Rovers opted to go with a back three against Wigan as they kept a first clean sheet in eight matches. With Lenihan sidelined with a knee injury since the defeat to Brentford on February 2, Rovers remain without their best header of the ball.

They have struggled to deal with their opponents’ aerial threat of late, not least in the defeat to Rotherham United earlier this month. They face a Sheffield Wednesday side not lacking in size, but Mowbray hopes his side can combat that.

He added: “There is no point sitting here and moaning constantly that we don’t have anyone who can head it. You have to find a way of playing.

“You have to keep the opposition away from your goal if you can. I’m not sure they are going to score with a header from outside of the box.

“Let’s find a way of playing, a way of winning, put the excuses away and get on with the group we’ve got and try and win football matches.”

Mowbray does acknowledge that Rovers do require a deeper squad however, with a number of players having struggled with injuries, something the boss admits is down to the intensity of the league and how hard the players are working.

He added: “There was Amari’i Bell going down, Danny struggling, Bradley hobbling a little bit towards the end. It’s that stage of the season, after being driven really hard, playing at our maximum with our foot on the gas, I can see it all now.

“They’ve worked extraordinarily hard to come up from League One and stick with the teams towards the top. Some of the lads, their bodies are finding it tough at the moment.

“We need a deeper squad with a bit more quality.

“At the moment, some of our younger players are getting chances. We’re excited about some of our young players though. Tyler (Magloire) got an opportunity and some of our other young players will play before the end of the season.”