Tony Mowbray says Ben Gladwin will be supported in his bid to get fit after a horrendous run with injuries since signing for the club.

Gladwin joined from QPR in the summer of 2017 but hasn’t made a league start for the club and didn’t feature at all for the club in 2018/19.

His last appearance came in November 2017 before suffering the first of two serious injuries which have ruled him out of action.

The 26-year-old sees his deal at Ewood Park expire at the end of next month, but Rovers revealed in their retained list that they were in discussions with Gladwin over the possibility of a new deal.

Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph that will be to allow the former Swindon man a chance to work on his fitness, with a further decision on his future expected to take place in January. 

Rovers also remain in talks with out-of-contract pair Jack Rodwell and Craig Conway, but announced that Paul Downing will be leaving the club, while Jayson Leutwiler has had his 12 month option triggered.

“Ben is different from the other two, he’s had a horrific time with injuries,” Mowbray said.

“I think it’s the right thing to do to give him the opportunity to get fit.

“It’s not the right thing to let him run down his contract and then just let him go.

“We’re hopefully doing the right thing by Ben and hopefully he can get himself fit at some stage and try and get himself back on the grass and see how he does.

“It’s not a football judgement. He’s been injured for nearly a year, it’s just frustrating for him.

“He has to get himself back on the grass and hopefully earn himself another deal with us or at least get himself another deal somewhere to start playing football.”

Gladwin is expected to agree a short-term deal before his future is discovered further later in the calendar year.

And Mowbray revealed that Gladwin won’t be fit enough to join in with first-team training when they return from their close season break at the end of June, having suffered a setback in his rehabilitation. 

“He won’t be ready for pre-season,” Mowbray said.

“It will be longer than pre-season.

“We have to support him through his injury and let’s hope he can get fit before January and then earn himself another deal.”

Meanwhile, three of Damien Johnson’s Under-23s squad will leave the club, with goalkeeper Charlie Albinson, full back Jack Doyle and striker Lewis Mansell not offered fresh deals.

Scholars George Wilson and Kyle Connell will also depart.