Jon Dahl Tomasson has praised Scott Wharton’s attitude despite being out of the team in recent weeks.

The centre-back has been limited to a couple of appearances off the bench in the Championship, with Dom Hyam and Hayden Carter continuing their partnership at the heart of defence.

Wharton started the victories against Walsall and Harrogate in the Carabao Cup, providing experience alongside his young team-mates.

Tomasson has been pleased with what he has seen from the centre-back in training and challenged him to make the most of any opportunities that come his way.

“I need to give all the credit to Scott because he has been extremely professional and he knows what football is about,” he told The Lancashire Telegraph.

“He is working hard and waiting for a chance. Football is about competition and taking the chance when you have it.

“Some players can be unlucky getting injured at the wrong moment. Scott did really good in pre-season and has a great attitude.”

Rovers have one of the youngest sides in the division, with Ryan Hedges the most senior member of Tomasson’s squad at 28.

Daniel Ayala and Thomas Kaminski were two experienced heads last season, and the likes of Dom Hyam and Sam Szmodics have stepped up as leaders in the dressing room in their absence.

Moreover, the likes of Tom Bloxham, James Edmondson and Pat Gamble made their senior debuts at Harrogate, while Joe Hilton featured against Walsall in the opening round.

Tomasson admits it is rare to have such a young squad in the modern game but says there is a hunger to keep learning and improving at Brockhall.

“I like working with these boys every day,” he added. They want to develop, they have a great attitude. But I haven’t (had such a young squad).

“I don’t think there are a lot of clubs who have that in the world – maybe one club in Denmark, Nordsjaelland, who have a different set-up. But the rest of the world, I don’t think so.”

Rovers have already had to deal with several injuries since the start of the new campaign, with Arnor Sigurdsson and Niall Ennis both making progress in their respective recoveries.

Joe Rankin-Costello also missed the last couple of games after he was forced off at Watford, while Sam Barnes is facing another lengthy spell out of action following his latest setback.

Tomasson has been a vocal supporter of the increase in stoppage time added on at the end of halves this season. However, the boss knows it will increase the physical toll on his players.

“(Injuries) can happen,” he explained. “We all know this league is the toughest league in the world, it is extremely competitive.

“The speed and intensity of the games, and now with the extra minutes as well, the chance of getting injuries is bigger.”