Elliott Bennett may be the reason Ryan Nyambe has had to wait so patiently for his opportunity, but the Rovers full back admits the skipper has been something of a helping hand.

Nyambe made just a first Championship start since Easter Monday when recalled against Huddersfield, with Bennett switching to left back given Rovers’ mounting injury issues in defence.

Bennett is one of four ever-presents in the Rovers side and was made captain following the departure of Charlie Mulgrew.

That has left Nyambe sidelined, but the 21-year-old has used his time on the bench wisely, studying Bennett’s performances in a bid to improve his technical side of the game.

That is one area where boss Tony Mowbray feels the experienced Bennett offers more, with Nyambe doing extra work after training in a bid to improve his game.

“Every day he talks to me, I’m always out after training doing whatever I can, passing, crossing, heading, just to help me out and become more confident in my ability,” Nyambe said of his relationship with the boss.

“Benno has more technical ability than me and I’ve been learning off him, watching him in games, and that’s helped. So when I do come in to the team I can show that.

“The game I played (on Saturday) I felt good, confident, and I just have to keep going.”

While Bennett has shown his versatility, Nyambe could be forced to do the same, given Rovers’ injuries at centre half.

He operated there in this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations for Namibia and has played in a back three on occasion for Rovers.

Bennett too is just one booking away from a suspension, with Nyambe hoping his performance at the weekend is enough to warrant staying in the team at Birmingham City tonight.

“I have to be ready. I played in the Africa Cup of Nations at centre back, I’m quite familiar with the position now and hopefully that experience can help me out,” he added.

“All three games I played there and I felt comfortable. You never know, it’s a different type of football, tournament to league football, so I will have to adapt.

“The manager watched every game, that was nice to show him what I can do and I’m happy that I did.”

On-loan full back Greg Cunningham will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, with Darragh Lenihan sidelined for up to eight weeks, while Amari’i Bell was absent against Huddersfield.

That meant a re-shuffle at the back, with Nyambe admitting there is an element of learning on the job when it comes to being switched around.

“Benno had to switch to left back which is a new position, but did a good job,” he explained.

“Everyone has to be ready when the injuries do come.

“It’s not easy, but you need to analyse the game as it goes. Once you’re in the game it becomes more fluent to you and you become used to it.

“If the gaffer wanted me to play left back or centre back you have to think fast and try and correct the things you need to do.”

Rovers came from behind to lead against Huddersfield in a promising first half performance, but were made to settle for a point as the visitors hit back in the second half.

Asked for his assessment of the weekend, Nyambe said: “We got a point, but wanted more. I thought we did well first half, controlled the game, but second half we lost our rhythm a bit.

“We watched the game back and there are things we can take in to the next game.”

Rovers have won four and lost five of their opening 12 games and head to Birmingham looking to kickstart their season with a third away victory.

“I think we’ve been up and down. We’re not far off,” he said.

“It’s a tight league, I think we’re doing okay but we need to get a rhythm going, a couple of wins and move up the table.”