Blackburn handed major fitness boosts for West Brom trip

Rovers' season has been undermined by long-term injuries to key players but there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.

Gallagher has been out since mid-September after an initial calf injury but has suffered several setbacks on his way back to training. However, after a full week with the squad, the striker will be in the travelling party in the Midlands.

Rankin-Costello is also back amongst the group after suffering a hamstring injury in the win over Norwich City back in November. He was initially ruled out for three months and so is slightly ahead of schedule.

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Tomasson warned that neither player is match fit but he had decided to take them to The Hawthorns on Saturday. Scott Wharton is also back available after three weeks out with a calf issue whilst Aynsley Pears made his injury comeback in the week for the Under-21s.

“We still have a couple of players out,” Tomasson said. "Sam Barnes is not involved, Ryan Hedges, John Buckley and Tyrhys Dolan (are all out). Still, the positive news is that we had some senior players on the pitch this week.

“Sam Gallagher is out there and has been involved in a couple of training sessions, although he’s not match fit at all. Sam’s been a poor boy. He’s the only senior striker who’s been used to this level and has been out for almost four months.

“The same can be said for Joe Rankin-Costello, which is great. Scott Wharton as well is out there.

"Pears played for the Under-21s and has said he’s a bit sore, which is normal when you’re been out for a while.

“He’s told me that he was a bit rusty but it’s a great thing to see all those lads out there again and I will bring a lot of those players to the game.

“We know they’re not match fit, but we’ll try and build them up, although it will take time.

“We have a couple of players who have been ill in the week and I hope we’ll get them back, but it’s not 100 per cent sure yet.”