Joe Rankin-Costello is back in training after three months out – but tomorrow night’s trip to Barnsley will come too soon for the versatile 21-year-old.

He has been sidelined since limping off in the defeat at Luton Town in November, his third separate hamstring injury of the season, but he has still managed to clock up nine Championship starts.

The majority of those have come at right back, but Rankin-Costello is able to play in a variety of positions, his versatility having proved invaluable since making his breakthrough on the first-team scene within the last month.

It is expected that Rankin-Costello will play for the Under-23s ahead of his return to action, Billy Barr’s side hosting West Ham United on Friday.

“I imagine it will be a very similar group for Wednesday night and that’s okay,” Mowbray said.

“Rankin-Costello is back now but he probably needs an Under-23s game at some stage after his long-term injury.

“He's training on the grass so he's doing everything, he just needs to play an Under-23s game.

“There's a fair chance he might play half a game (on Friday).”

Meanwhile, experienced midfielder Bradley Johnson is also back on the training pitch, but still not ready to return to the first-team fold having been out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Johnson, who has started 20 games this season, limped off at Middlesbrough with the injury that has seen him miss the next three matches, but Mowbray says he is making progress.

“Bradley Johnson has put his boots on and has been back on the grass with us but won’t be available for Barnsley.

“Three or four more days training and he might be back in contention."

Tom Trybull is still out with a back spasm.