Jacob Davenport ‘grew in to the game’ in the eyes of his manager, Tony Mowbray, after getting his Rovers debut earlier than expected against Swansea City

Davenport has endured an injury-hit first season at Ewood Park, sustaining a hip problem in pre-season and then, in November, he tore his groin which set him back three months.

However, the 20-year-old has become a regular for the Under-23s of late, building up his fitness to put him in contention of making his first team bow.

Mowbray hinted pre-match that he was keen to give Davenport some game-time off the bench, but his opportunity came midway through the first half as he was sent on following an injury to Elliott Bennett.

His introduction came when Swansea were starting to take charge, but he, and Rovers, upped their intensity in the second half, with the former Manchester City midfielder going close to a late winner with a dipping volley.

Asked for his assessment of Davenport, Mowbray said: “I think he grew in to the game. We spoke at half time and I felt in those first 20 minutes the game was a bit quick for him.

“I was impressed him at the end. That’s the kid he is.

“I spoke to him about that in the week and said I would try and get him on the pitch at some stage.

“When I watched him playing for Burton on loan he was all about mixing it, putting his foot in, driving forward, with a wand of a left foot picking long and short passes.

“Unfortunately he’s had injury after injury this year and that has been psychologically difficult for him to be as robust as he needs to be.

“With my shouting voice in his ear he got back to what he’s good at.

“We wouldn’t have signed him if he wasn’t a good player.

“He needs to get the confidence back in to his game after the injuries he’s had.

“He has had such a tough season but he’s been fit for the last three months playing for the Under-23s and I just wanted to give him an opportunity to show he’s part of the team and show the supporters a player who we signed from Manchester City.”

Davenport’s extended involvement is likely to mean he won’t feature for the Under-23s in their Lancashire Senior Cup final with Burnley at Lancashire FA headquarters tonight (7pm).