Harry Pickering saw his ever-present run in the side end in Rovers’ win over Sunderland – with Jon Dahl Tomasson pointing to fatigue as a reason behind the decision.

Pickering had started Rovers’ opening 15 matches on the left side of the defence, but was absent from the matchday squad against Sunderland.

Tomasson played down any suggestion of an injury however, instead outlining that he was giving a rest to the 23-year-old who should be available for the weekend visit of Birmingham City.

“He’s played a lot of games. He had played five games in October and in this programme we need to rotate and change players,” Tomasson said.

“We made a couple of changes from Middlesbrough and we are trying to keep everyone ready to play and help the club.

“He should be able to train (before Birmingham).”

In his place, Callum Brittain moved to the left wing-back role, as Ryan Hedges played on the right.

That was despite having Clinton Mola and Tayo Edun, more natural options at left wing-back, available.

Edun didn’t make the squad once again, while Mola was an unused substitute, as Tomasson explained his thinking with the Brittain decision.

He added: “They have (Patrick) Roberts on the right and he’s coming a lot into the pitch, so I think it was a good solution to use a right-footed player there.

“Sometimes the way we found the space in the half spaces it can be an advantage to have a player on the wrong side."

Daniel Ayala missed his second game through injury, with Tomasson making a change to his back three as Hayden Carter replaced Ash Phillips who started the Middlesbrough win.

George Hirst, who started for the Under-21s in their 2-2 draw with West Ham United at the weekend, was again not involved in the matchday squad, and neither was Bradley Dack.

John Buckley and Jack Vale came into the squad, with Tomasson revealing that it was selection, rather than an injury, which kept Dack out.

“I did not select him,” he said.

“We all want him to get back on track.

“Sometimes when you have been out for a long time, two very serious injuries, sometimes it can take a long time to get back but we’re doing everything for him.

“You need to work hard in the sessions”

 Asked if that had been communicated to Dack, the head coach said: “You need to have a good communication as to what you see, and we have that.

“Every player, we have individual talks with every player regarding training and performance.

“We’re enjoying it in that way.

“Garrett for example, Sam, Hayden, they’ve been around the Under-21s to get game-time and be prepared and they’ve been patient, digging in and to give a performance like that, impressive.”

Tomasson also revealed that cramp forced off Sam Szmodics in the closing stages, with Tyrhys Dolan and Vale late introductions off the bench, with Sam Gallagher also replaced.

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