The 25-year-old winger missed United’s pre-season campaign on home soil after picking up a knock during the club’s trip to Spain.

He then worked his way back to full fitness, and U’s head coach Des Buckingham is ready to unleash him in Sky Bet Championship, with Rovers the first opportunity for Dale to get some minutes under his belt.

READ ALSO: New book features U’s adventures in Soccer Six and Anglo-Italian Cup

Buckingham said: “Owen’s fit and available for selection. He played 45 minutes in Spain, and we haven’t seen him since, but he looked very sharp out there in training and he’s back in contention, and it’s good to have him back.”

United’s most recent signings though, the Dutch right back Hidde ter Avest and Indonesia winger Marselino Ferdinan, need time to gain match sharpness, having not had a pre-season regime.

ter Avest left FC Utrecht in the summer, while Ferdinan departed Belgian second tier side KMSK Deinze.

Buckingham said: “Hidde and Marselino are in the same space that Matt Phillips was when he signed.

“Hidde hasn’t really done too much, and he will take two or three weeks to get him up to speed, so we probably won’t see either of those two until post the September international window.”