TONY Mowbray admits he ‘won’t be disappointing’ Danny Graham for too much longer after restricting the top scorer to substitute appearances in Blackburn Rovers’ last three games.

Mowbray has preferred Sam Gallagher and Marvin Emnes in attack for the wins over Derby County, Wigan Athletic and Tuesday’s draw with Cardiff City.

Top scorer Graham started the first game under new head coach Mowbray at Burton Albion on February 24, but has been on the bench since.

Mowbray admits the 31-year-old has ‘been very professional’ in his bid to earn a recall to the starting XI.

“Danny trained like a warrior, like a Trojan, running around everywhere,” Mowbray said of Graham’s reaction to being left out.

“And I think that’s important that players at this moment in time who aren’t starting games show a real desire and commitment and want to play.

“He showed that very evidently in training and I won’t be disappointing him for too much longer.

“The team has to score goals, has to win, we have to threaten their goal, but I felt that we did the other night.

“When Danny came on I think things improved, his ability to hold the ball up on the edge of the box, twists and gets shots away, was pretty evident and he’s doing really well and working really hard.

“It can be interesting sometimes as a coach to sit down and see how players react in adversity, or perceived adversity of not playing, and I think a positive is that their attitudes have all been positive.

“I’ve had sulkers in the past, I don’t really see the point in players sulking because the manager won’t feel sorry for them he will only think worse of them.

“Generally they (the players who who have been left out) are applying themselves well and making selection more difficult every week.”

Graham will be eyeing a potential return to the starting line-up for this afternoon’s trip to Norwich City as he looks to add to his tally of 12 goals this season.

Mowbray has a number of other options ahead of the trip to Carrow Road with a near fully-fit squad.

With Rovers in need of points, and facing the prospect of four away trips to teams in the top eight of the Championship over the coming weeks, Mowbray admits it may require a new approach on their travels

That could see a potential recall for attacking midfielder Elliott Bennett against his former side, while Hope Akpan could come back in to the XI after serving his suspension. 

Having named the same team for the past three games, Mowbray added: “When I sit here I think there are some pretty good footballers at this club.

“Because the games come so thick and fast we have to use the assets we have got.

“Away from home against Norwich, Brighton, Reading and Fulham, some of them are Tuesdays after Saturdays so we have to utilise the squad.

“Good footballers will get opportunities, you can’t keep going back to the well and asking the lads to keep producing every three days.

“And if you have lads who are desperate to show you they can play then they will all get opportunities.”