Tony Mowbray revealed Harrison Reed could have played his final game for Rovers as the loanee prepares to return to Southampton for treatment.

The 24-year-old missed the weekend win at Nottingham Forest with the injury which he sustained in training.

The midfielder has undergone a scan at Rovers, but will go back to his parent club this weekend before a decision is taken on whether he will return to East Lancashire before the end of the season.

Reed has largely been a hit with the Rovers fans, scoring three times in 36 appearances including a goal of the season contender at West Brom in October.

But he has had spells out of the side, and largely used by Mowbray out wide, rather than his preferred central role.

“I think he’s an exceptionally talented boy,” said Mowbray.

“At his best he’s been fantastic, other days, and I’ve spoken to him about it which is why he hasn’t played every game, there has been an inconsistency in his level of performance.

“At his best he’s a very good player for our team, but on other days he hasn’t reached the standards, the running, the energy levels, his ability to impact the game, that’s why he’s been in and out.

“He knows that, he’s been told, and I put that down to being a young player. It’s about finding a way in every game to make your mark and being one of the best players on the pitch because he has the talent to do that.

“I’m sure that when he gets older and matures he will become a footballer that can really impact games.”

Reed has already stated his intention that he will spend this summer assessing his future, but he is keen to make the grade at St Mary’s where he still has two years left on his contract. He has played 30 times for Southampton since making his debut in August 2013, but spent last season with Norwich.

On his injury, Mowbray said: “He’s going back to Southampton at the end of this week for them to assess what they want to do with him.

“I don’t know the exact name of the problem, it’s at the top of his ankle.

“It was very innocuous in training. He hit a 30 or 40 yard diagonal pass and his standing leg had a bit of a click in it and he jumped up in the air. It was nothing, no tackle, or twist.

“It was pretty concerning that he had damaged something just by kicking the ball. He’s had a scan. The medical department don’t think it’s too bad but they think it’s going to be a couple of weeks. Might he get the last game of the season? Maybe. He will go back to Southampton for them to assess it and then decide whether he’s coming back or whether he’ll start the rehabilitation programme there.”