Daniel Ayala added his name to Rovers’ injury list as he limped off in the defeat at Watford.

The central defender was making his third consecutive start for the club since his free transfer move but was forced off with a groin injury midway through the second half.

Scott Wharton came on for his first Championship appearance in more than four years as Ayala headed straight down the tunnel.

Derrick Williams returned to East Lancashire on Tuesday after his period of self-isolation in Ireland after Covid-issues within the Republic of Ireland squad during the international break.

After one day of training he wasn’t deemed ready to be involved at Vicarage Road but will come back into the reckoning when Rovers travel to Coventry City this weekend.

“I think it was his groin, it’s just a tight groin, but too early to say  how severe it is,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“A lot of the new signings are adapting to the intensity and he’ll have to keep working hard to get to the levels that are required.

“We’re looking forward to integrating all the new signings into the team and hopefully becoming a better team.”

Sam Gallagher rolled his ankle in training which kept him out of the Hornets trip, having just returned from a groin problem that saw him miss the opening three weeks of the campaign.

Joe Rothwell is already out of the Coventry game, as he continues his period of self-isolation, with Elliott Bennett, Lewis Travis and Bradley Dack longer-term concerns.

On Williams, Mowbray added: “He’s not injured, he’s been isolating so should be ready for Saturday.

“He’s got a few days training now and I’m pretty sure he’ll be there on Saturday for us.”