Rovers have been in contact with Leeds United over Ian Poveda but there is no fixed date on his return.

Poveda has been back at his parent club since undergoing ankle surgery in November but he has now resumed light training.

Discussions over cutting the loan short failed to materialise, with Rovers continuing to pay a portion of the 22-year-old’s salary and remains on the club’s books for the remainder of the season.

The impact he has on the remaining weeks will be determined by the timing of his return, with the prospect of him featuring in the final few games.

Poveda has been back to Brockhall since his injury, but won’t return on a full-time basis until fully-fit, as the two clubs continue to liaise with each other.

“We’re in touch with Leeds about Poveda who is back on the grass doing light stuff with them. He’s not ready to play football yet,” Mowbray explained.

“I know we are still paying a part of his salary.

“If he comes back that will be good.

“If he doesn’t because he’s not going to get match fit, I hope he gets himself fit and well.

“If Ian comes back, we will be happy to see him.

“He’s a nice kid, he’s works hard and brings a bit of quality. So if he does come back, that will be good.”

Poveda still has two years left to run on his contract at Leeds for who he has made 20 senior appearances since joining from Manchester City in 2020.

He made only eight appearances for Rovers, but impressed in the win over Sheffield United, claiming a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win, to keep his place for the game at Bristol City when he sustained the injury.

In his absence, Rovers moved to bring in Dilan Markanday, Ryan Hedges and Ryan Giles as attacking options in the January window.

Talks over the prospect of ending Poveda’s loan failed to materialise, with no clause to cut-short the deal having been included as there was in similar deals with Jan Paul van Hecke, Reda Khadra and Leighton Clarkson, the latter having returned to Liverpool in January.

With van Hecke and Khadra continuing their stays, Poveda remaining at the club and the January arrivals of Deyo Zeefuik and Giles, it means Rovers have five loanees on their books - the maximum allowed in a matchday squad.

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