Blackpool boss Bowyer enjoys a selection headache

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Both Sean Longstaff and Callum Cooke, who have been out of the side in recent weeks through injury, have trained this week and look set to be in contention for Saturday’s game at Ewood Park.

In the Seasiders’ last fixture, the 2-0 victory at Portsmouth, Bowyer opted to play Jay Spearing alongside Jimmy Ryan in the centre of Blackpool’s midfield.

But with Longstaff and Cooke both pushing for a start, Bowyer admits he has a decision to make when he names his side.

“We’re looking good fitness-wise,” Bowyer told The Gazette.

“Callum Cooke has joined back in so that’s a boost for us.

“Sean Longstaff has been fine and Mark Cullen has been training with us as well, so he’s going the right way.

“It’s just been a little difficult getting a game in for him so we’ll try and do that in the next couple of weeks for sure.

“Then there’s Jim McAlister who is just stepping it up which is a nice little boost, so we’re not too bad on that front at this moment in time.

“The return of Callum and Longy obviously gives me a little bit of a headache but you ask any manager and they’ll tell you that’s what they want. They want competition for places.

“That’s been reflected in training this week because it’s been of a good standard and at a good intensity.”

Cooke hasn’t featured in more than a month having suffered with a heel injury, which saw him sent back to parent club Middlesbrough for a few days to be assessed by their medical team.