Tony Mowbray gave an encouraging injury update on Sam Gallagher and Joe Rankin-Costello when he spoke to LancsLive.

He said: "He will feature. (Gallagher against Cardiff City)

"Joe Rankin-Costello, we have to be careful. He's a young boy who's picked up a lot of hamstring injuries. I'm not sure Rankin-Costello is going to be thrust in so soon, he's got to do some training on the pitches."

The Rovers crept into the play-off places with a goalless draw at Barnsley at the weekend and will be hoping to build on that platform when they welcome Mick McCarthy's men to Ewood Park.

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Sam Gallagher has been building a good relationship with Tyrhys Dolan and Ben Brereton Diaz at the start of the campaign and will certainly test the sturdy Bluebirds back three of Sean Morrison, Aden Flint and Curtis Nelson.

The pressure was on Mowbray at the start of this season after the club did not source a replacement following the sale of Adam Armstrong, along with Brereton Diaz, Gallagher is looking to step up and take on the goalscoring burden this term with Rovers a greater attacking threat with him in the side.

Rankin-Costello looks set for a longer spell away from the first team picture, another youngster Mowbray has brought through, the 22-year-old will be a welcome boost on his return in the not too distant future.

The Verdict

Sam Gallagher is now a crucial attacking player for Blackburn, the 26-year-old has scored 29 goals in 137 appearances for Rovers and is improving year on year at Ewood Park.

Mowbray has been able to acquire some very precocious flair players in the form of Ian Poveda and Reda Khadra on loan from Premier League clubs and with the more direct threats of Gallagher and Brereton Diaz, Blackburn could definitely prove to be one of the surprise packages in the Championship this season. It will be interesting to see if they can trouble Cardiff who are just two points behind them.