Harrison Reed won’t be returning to Rovers after his loan spell was cut short because of injury.

The midfielder has returned to parent club Southampton where he will stay to begin treatment on the ankle injury he sustained in training.

Reed will miss the final two matches of the season, having also been absent for wins over Nottingham Forest, QPR and Bolton this month.

The 24-year-old became a popular figure at the club during his season-long loan in which he played 36 times and scored three goals.

Mowbray said earlier this month that Reed would be heading back to St Mary’s to be assessed, but he has now been ruled out of the remainder of this season which means he won’t be available to face former loan club Norwich this weekend.

The boss said: “He’s gone back to Southampton. He came in to my office the other day with a cast over his foot.

“Southampton feel it’s best that he goes back there for treatment. He is their player and that’s what’s happening.

“We hope he can come back for the awards night.

“He integrated really well in to the group and is a similar age to a lot of the players. They liked his company. He worked hard in training.  

“I said to him before he we started the loan that we liked the flexibility around his position so it was important that he didn’t get uptight about central midfield.

“We knew he could play off both sides and full back if needed.

“He was okay with that. He played a lot of football, but for a young guy he contributed well for us.

“At his best, as the man of the match awards he won showed, he is one of the best footballers we’ve got, other days I felt he was a bit inconsistent and lacked a bit of discipline on his position. He’d run everywhere to try and get involved but left us a bit empty at times.

“He’s a great lad, took advice well, didn’t moan when he got left out, we all enjoyed his company. It’s frustrating for him, and us, that he’s left before the season with an injury which was really innocuous.”