JASON Lowe is set to hand Blackburn Rovers’ stretched squad a timely boost by returning for the trip to top-six rivals Brentford on Saturday week.

Versatile Lowe has not kicked a ball since August 30 after he was diagnosed as having suffered a stress fracture in his foot.

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But the midfielder, who can also play in defence, is closing in on a first-team return after joining in full training this week.

Lowe is unlikely to be considered fit enough for this Saturday’s visit of Sheffield Wednesday to Ewood Park.

But Gary Bowyer expects him to be good to go for the showdown with the Championship’s most in-form team, Brentford.

That will come as a fillip to the Rovers boss who is already without Tommy Spurr, Matt Kilgallon and Josh King.

Bowyer also has a fitness doubt over captain Grant Hanley going into the Owls clash.

“Jason will be a big plus for us coming back,” said Bowyer.

“He has trained this week and he’ll train again Thursday and Friday.

“Saturday’s match might come too soon for him but certainly the Saturday after at Brentford is the plan.

“Even though he’s been injured, he’s still been first in and last out of the training ground.

“He’s a midfielder by trade but he’s also played right back for us this season.

“He could also slot in quite easily at centre half and he’s even played a couple of games at left back.

“So, as I say, it’ll be a big plus when he’s back.”

Skipper Hanley has yet to train since coming off with an ankle injury during the first half of last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

But Bowyer, whose top scorer Rudy Gestede has been nominated for the Championship player of the month award, is hopeful the centre back will be back out on Brockhall the grass today or tomorrow.

Should Hanley fail to recover in time Rovers will be down to just four fit and available senior defenders for the encounter with Wednesday.

One of those defenders, right back Adam Henley, would take Hanley’s place, with another, Alex Baptiste, switching to centre back to partner Shane Duffy, with Markus Olsson continuing at left back.

Bowyer, who was impressed by Henley’s performance off the bench at the Riverside Stadium, has more options in other areas of the field.

On-loan goalkeeper Jason Steele will be available for selection after the rules of his season-long loan from Boro prevented him from playing against his parent club.

Midfielder Tom Cairney returns from suspension and striker Chris Brown, who came off the bench last Saturday to make his belated first-team debut, is edging closer toward full match sharpness after playing 75 minutes for the U21s on Monday.

Defender Bradley Orr, meanwhile, is on his way back to Rovers after Major League Soccer outfit FC Toronto confirmed they would not be extending his year-long loan after it expired this week.

Orr, 32, has not played for Rovers since April 2013.

He has 18 months remaining on his contract with the club.