Bradley Dack will return to the Rovers squad this weekend, exactly 12 months after sustaining his second ACL injury.

Dack scored twice in a behind closed doors game with Salford City on Monday, a sixth appearance since undergoing surgery for a second time.

His re-appearance in the squad comes as Rovers’ struggle for goals continues, only one in their last eight after a 0-0 draw with Millwall on Tuesday night.

There has been great clamour from supporters for Dack’s inclusion, having scored four times for the Under-23s, but manager Tony Mowbray has continued to take a cautious approach with the 28-year-old who has played only 17 first-team matches since December 2019.

But Mowbray says the time has come for Dack to return to the squad, even if he’s still far away from a starting spot.

He revealed: “Dack will probably make the bench at the weekend, he scored another two on Monday.

“He’s not fit, but he could come on for 20 minutes or quarter of an hour.

“He’s not ready in my mind but his injury is fit, it’s just he’s not match fit.

“He’s nowhere near running up and down, you see me pushing and driving them on the touchline and Dacky isn’t going to be able to do that.

“But he can get the ball around the edge of the box and stick someone in, or bend it in himself.

“He can do all of that and I wouldn’t expect him to be charging up and down the pitch but he feels his body is ready to play football.

“He probably needs another three or four weeks to get his match sharpness in his legs.

“In my mind, I hope we're 3-0 up and he doesn’t have to come on on Saturday.”

Rovers will aim to get back on track against Bristol City on Saturday, before the visit of Derby County next Tuesday and then a trip to Reading to lead into the international break.

Top scorer Ben Brereton should be back in time for the game at Coventry City on April 2, though discussions remain ongoing with Chile over his involvement in their World Cup qualifiers later this month.

The 22-year-old has netted 20 goals for Rovers this season, but has not featured since sustaining an ankle ligament injury in the 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion on February 14.

Under-23s striker Jack Vale made his first senior appearance since July 2020 late on against Millwall, having been included on the bench for the first time this season, as Rovers remain without a host of attacking options.

Brighton loanee Reda Khadra sat out the Millwall draw with a calf injury, but Mowbray expects him to be back in time for the weekend.

Khadra, who has scored five goals this season, limped out of the Fulham defeat and hasn’t trained since, but Mowbray expects him to be pushing for a recall when Bristol City visit Ewood Park on Saturday.