TONY Mowbray says Elliott Ward’s loan move to MK Dons was the right thing to do for the player and the Rovers boss doesn’t he feel he’s left short of options following the defender’s exit.

Ward joined the League One side on loan until the end of the season on January 30 having started just once in the league for Rovers since October.

Ward has just six months left to run on his contract having joined Rovers on a free transfer in January 2016 on a two-and-a-half year deal.

The 33-year-old has struggled with injuries since arriving at Ewood Park and has been restricted to just 23 league appearances in that time, 13 coming under Mowbray.

But with Darragh Lenihan and Charlie Mulgrew soon back to fitness, Mowbray is happy with his central defensive options.

“He’s coming out of contract,” Mowbray said of his decision to allow Ward to leave on loan.

“I genuinely feel that with Lenihan being a week away from fitness now, his opportunities were going to be very restricted.

“At his age I just felt it was the right thing to do for him to try and win a contract somewhere else.

“I don’t think I’m putting the team in jeopardy. Ryan Nyambe can play at centre half and (Paul) Caddis can play at right-back, (Derrick) Williams has shown that he can play centre half, Mulgrew is probably 10 days away from coming back so if I’ve got Lenihan, Mulgrew, Williams, Nyambe, Downing, I felt it was the right thing to do to try and get a contract next year and put himself in the show window.”