Jon Dahl Tomasson has admitted Niall Ennis is still playing catch-up on his fitness after a disrupted pre-season.

The Blackburn Rovers summer signing is yet to start a league match for his new club. Ennis and Semir Telalovic have been unused substitutes in the last two home games, which Rovers have lost by one goal.

Ennis missed most of pre-season with a groin issue and then injured his knee after impressing in August off the bench. Since returning at the start of October, he's been limited to substitute appearances lasting around 15 minutes in the league.

With Tomasson not turning to either of his summer signings against Preston, fans have questioned why the two strikers haven't been involved as often. 

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With Ennis, the Rovers head coach explained the issues around his injuries and fitness. Harry Leonard also missed a month of action but has returned to the fold far quicker and that is because he had a full pre-season.

"If you look at Niall, the boy came in with a few issues," Tomasson told The Lancashire Telegraph. "It took a long time to get him back in shape but without 100 per cent game fitness.

"Then he played and got injured again. It's been difficult for the boy because he wants to show fans he can play at this level because he is unproven as a Championship striker.

"He did well in League One but he needs to be fit for a longer while and build that fitness and sharpness. Hopefully, we can give him the opportunity when he is there.

"I thought before he got injured again, he did really well. He was getting closer and closer but then he got injured and was out for five weeks again.

"It takes time. If a player hasn't had good preparation, which Niall didn't have, that means it takes a long time. If you look at all the weeks the boy has missed, it could take three months before he's up to speed."

"For sure, pre-season makes a huge difference," he added. "With Harry, he played 30 minutes for the 21s, then 60 minutes with them, 30 against Swansea and then 60 against Chelsea.

"It's a big advantage for Harry because a player without good preparation can take time and you have to chase it for a while. I feel sorry for Niall because he wants to show how good he is."

For Telalovic, his first-team minutes have dried up and he has not been named in two of the last three matchday squads, instead featuring for Mike Sheron's Under-21s.

He scored a hat-trick for the youth side last week and that earned him a place on the bench against Preston. Tomasson is happy with the striker's application and explained some of the skills they are working on in training to help him adapt to a new standard of football.

"I was delighted for the boy because it gives confidence when he scored a hat-trick," he said. "When a striker gets those three goals, he is pleased.

"I know the levels are different but, on the other hand, you can play the game and be poor and not score goals so you'd get even fewer goals. That's why he will be on the bench tomorrow (Preston).

"He is getting used to the intensity of the league, with the ball and without the ball. There are good defenders who are tough, so we're looking at his link-up play, his runs off the ball.

"It can be how to press, pressing in the right ways. We are looking at all those combinations. We are working hard to make an unproven goal-scorer at this level a proven goal-scorer."