BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer is hopeful Jason Lowe is not facing another lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a recurrence of the injury that has forced him to miss 18 league matches this season.

Lowe was ruled out for more than three months after discovering in August that he had been playing through a stress fracture in his foot.

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The 23-year-old returned to full fitness in December but he made just two appearances before the problem flared up again.

Lowe spent another four weeks in the treatment room before he made a fresh comeback last month.

But, after he was substituted just 20 minutes into last night’s 2-1 home win over Rotherham United, Bowyer confirmed it was because he was feeling pain in the same foot.

He is optimistic, however, that Lowe’s decision to come off has helped prevent a serious problem.

Bowyer said: “It is a recurrence but he is a sensible lad so hopefully he has caught it early and it will settle down again.

“It’s happened once before but, like I say, he was sensible and he did not go on through it and hopefully it settles down now.

“It’s a disappointment for him because I thought on Saturday at Watford he was excellent for us and again tonight first half he was our outlet all day long.”

The versatile Lowe, who has played right-back in Rovers’ last three games, was yesterday undergoing treatment at Brockhall in a bid to see if he can take any part in Saturday’s FA Cup clash at home to Stoke City.