A bid to protect Tyrhys Dolan from injury was the reason behind the Rovers attacker not featuring in the starting line-up at QPR.

Dolan was one of four players who dropped to the bench in midweek, with Sam Gallagher, Joe Rothwell and John Buckley also missing out, as Tony Mowbray shuffled his pack after the draw with Coventry by making four changes.

Dolan had recovered from illness to make the Sky Blues visit and continue his run of featuring in every game up to that point, but the teenager didn’t get the opportunity to extend that sequence against Rangers.

Dan Butterworth got the nod over Ian Poveda to partner Ben Brereton in attack, his first start at senior level, though Dolan is line to return this afternoon after his watching brief in midweek.

Mowbray said: “In an ideal world, I would have played Tyrhys Dolan, given how much energy he has and how QPR play.

“Yet, his physical data suggested he couldn’t take three games a week.

“You always feel like he’s incredibly close from picking up an injury if he’s not managed correctly, because of how intense he is and how hard he works.

“Some of our players have found out how your body can react to your brain forcing you to exceed your limit.”

Rovers will have extra firepower available for the visit of Reading with Brighton loanee Reda Khadra back available after shaking off a bout of illness that had kept him out for games against Coventry City and QPR.

Prior to that the 20-year-old had featured in five successive games off the bench.