Harry Chapman may have to wait for his Rovers debut - with Tony Mowbray believing Joe Rothwell is first in line for an opportunity.

Chapman has impressed when training with the first team on a full time basis, after a spell with Damien Johnson’s Under-23s to build up his fitness after his January move.

Mowbray said last weekend that the 21-year-old, who has played five times for the Academy side, as well as summer signing Jacob Davenport could be handed opportunities before the season is out.

But Chapman will have to be patient with Rothwell, who has made just six starts this season, ahead of him in the pecking order, according to the boss.

He said: “Harry knew the day he signed that he might not play this season.

“I don’t feel as though we have to hang ourselves on Harry Chapman to win us some games this season.

“We have players who are more used to this league and I feel there are players in front of him, I would suggest.

“Joe Rothwell deserves to play in front of Harry Chapman at this moment on the left wing.

“Harry has to be patient, working hard as he’s doing. He’s had a smile on his face, he’s not been grumpy around the building, he’s working hard.

“We signed him because we saw him as someone that could help us a lot in the future but he’s still only a young player.

“If he gets an opportunity, however it arises, and we feel he can impact the game in front of Armstrong or Rothwell then we’ll do that.

“We want to win a game pretty quickly, and if we can get to a point in the last five or six games then maybe we’ll see some more young players getting an opportunity.”