CRAIG Conway will provide a timely boost for Rovers as he is set to be included in the matchday squad for this weekend’s trip to Peterborough United.

The Scot hasn’t featured for Rovers since October 31 having struggled with a hamstring injury, but his return to fitness coincides with Elliott Bennett being handed a four match ban after his second red card of the season in Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Crewe Alexandra.

Conway has been restricted to just 10 appearances in all competitions, but having come through around 10 days of training without reaction, the 32-year-old is expected to return at the ABAX Stadium.

Boss Tony Mowbray is keen to ease Conway back, but having his seen his options out wide diminish following Bennett’s suspension, and injuries to Harry Chapman (hamstring) and Ben Gladwin (knee), he said: “There is good news on Craig who has trained all week.

“He’s been a bit anxious that he doesn’t rush it back having done a couple of times when coming back and breaking down so it’s been a stop-start season for him.

“He’s got to ease his way back so he’s ready to go full pelt when we ask him to play.

“We have to manage it (his return) so let’s hope it’s well timed.

“Tough away games Bennett and Conway have probably been my preferred choice but we have seen that (Marcus) Antonsson can score goals and had a real goal threat for the team.

“Bennett has been a key part of how we’ve been playing so that is a loss, but Craig has similar attributes.

“When we had Chapman, Gladwin, Bennett and Conway and throwing Antonsson in there we had a lot of options but they have obviously drifted away in those wide areas. Marcus is fit and can run up and down all day and can bring a goal threat so we will be okay, be positive and see if we can keep this going.”

On Bennett, Mowbray added: “We’re disappointed with the suspension of course. Elliott Bennett for four games will be a loss but one we will cope with.”

Gladwin is yet to start a league game for Rovers and didn’t appear in any of the previous five matchday squads after struggling with a knee specialist.

And Mowbray said: “He hasn’t been training.

“Ben has been to a specialist on his knee and I think the adjudication was that we give him a couple of weeks to see if it will settle down and then if not there’s a potential for them to go in and see what the problem is.”

“He won’t be involved for a while.”