Joe Rankin-Costello is set to feature for the Under-23s tomorrow – with Bradley Dack not far behind him.

The pair are Rovers’ longest-injury absence with Rankin-Costello having only played once since April while Dack has been sidelined since March.

Rankin-Costello has had a disrupted return since fracturing his ankle at Wycombe, making one substitute appearance in the 7-0 defeat to Fulham before another hamstring injury delayed his return.

His latest comeback will include a run-out for Mike Sheron’s side in their Premier League Cup game at Middlesbrough tomorrow, while Dack is expected to play three times for the Under-23s during the course of this month.

The pair will add further strength to a Rovers squad currently free of injury and Covid concerns and riding high in the Championship after six straight victories.

“I think that’s the plan. He’s been training for a few weeks but we are managing his loads because he’s been out a long time,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph of Rankin-Costello.

“At some time you have to expose him to it.”

Rankin-Costello started 16 of the 17 games he was available for during an injury-disrupted campaign.

Dack, who turned 28 yesterday, scored three times in 24 appearances between Boxing Day and March before suffering a second ACL injury that required surgery.

On his comeback, Mowbray said: “Dack is a few weeks behind but it won’t be too long before he’s playing in a bit of a game.

“He’s tip-toed into full contact training, which is brilliant to see.

“Let me say now, he’s our best player. You can see it now, he’s probably a tenth of the fitness of where he needs to be to play in this team but his touch, vision, awareness, the brilliance is that people give him the ball because they know he’s not going to give it away.

“It’s exciting watching him train.

“He will have to try and disrupt Buckley out of that position and if John keeps creating chances it’s a test for Bradley.

“On the back of two ACL injuries we won’t rush him back, we don’t need to and hopefully the team can keep winning so we can ease him back and when he’s back in and flying let’s see if he can get back to being the best player in the league.”

Meanwhile, Under-23s striker Connor McBride is attracting attention from a number of League One clubs who are looking to sign him on loan.

Rovers are set to sanction a move for the Scot with the transfer window having now re-opened. The 20-year-old saw a summer move to Scunthorpe United break down.