Stock withdrew from the Wales squad which beat Lichtenstein in Cardiff over the weekend to help accelerate his rehabilitation and will again be missing when the principality continue their World Cup qualifying campaign against Germany on Wednesday.

Despite selecting Stock for the South Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United last month, Sean O'Driscoll, Rovers' manager, admitted the player would have been only "half-fit" had he joined John Toshack's squad.

He believes that, far from harming Stock's international ambitions, the 26-year-old will actually benefit from staying at home.

"If he wants to play for his country, he needs to be able to maintain his club form," O'Driscoll said.

Meanwhile, Simon Grayson, O'Driscoll's counterpart at Bloomfield Road, fears the global credit crunch could have an adverse effect upon his transfer budget.

Grayson, who wants to sign up to four new players during the January window, said: "To be fair to the chairman and board, every time I have asked for a player I have always more or less got them.

"There have never been any fall-outs and I've never been told I can't have someone.

"But I also have to be realistic.

"There is no point me asking for £1m for a player because I'll be wasting my time."