Joe Rothwell is hoping his waiting game can be rewarded with a string of starts to finish the season.

The attacking midfielder made just a sixth league start, and first of 2019, in Rovers’ defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

The 24-year-old’s impressive string of performances off the bench saw him rewarded with a start and just a second full game of the season.

Rothwell has largely been used as an impact substitute for Rovers since his move from League One side Oxford United last summer.

With eight games remaining though, he is aiming to play a much bigger role and hopes his display at Hillsborough will see him boost his chances.

“That’s the plan,” he said.

“I have been coming on and trying to do what I do and catch the manager’s eye. I might have done that to get in the team and hopefully done enough to keep my place.

“Once you’ve got in the team the aim is to stay there.

“Obviously I’m no different to anyone else but it’s been a bit of a long wait and hopefully I can do that.”

Rovers have lost seven of their last nine Championship matches and slipped to 17th in the table.

They take a welcome break from action this weekend, due to the international fixtures, and the focus will be on getting a number of senior players fully fit ahead of the trip to March 30.

The recent run has threatened to de-rail what had been a promising campaign following promotion from League One.

With eight games remaining, Rothwell is keen to ensure that plenty of hard work doesn’t go to waste.

He explained: “You don’t want to end with a run of defeats.

“We have gone away and looked at things and seen where we can improve.

“Hopefully we can have a strong end to the season.”

Mowbray has used Rothwell from the start sparingly, though he has been used in 24 of Rovers’ 38 Championship fixtures, and a further four times in the cup competitions. A favourite with the supporters, Rothwell finds himself in a similar position to Harry Chapman last season, having had to remain patient for his opportunities.

Mowbray admits he has reservations about Rothwell’s ability to help the team defensively, adding: “I think he’s got a long way to go.

“He’s in a similar situation to what Harry Chapman was in at the start of last season, and as a football manager, I need to feel what works for the team and what they’ll benefit from.

“If a specific player can dance past someone once or twice a game, it doesn’t mean that he’s helping the team, specifically defensively, throughout the whole 90 minutes.”