WITH Saturday’s disappointing defeat at Brentford followed by the confirmation the club will be hit by a New Year transfer embargo, positive news has been in short supply at Blackburn Rovers.

But it was a good weekend for the four young players currently cutting their Football League teeth away from Ewood Park.

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Jack O’Connell and John O’Sullivan were on target for Rochdale and Accrington Stanley respectively while Darragh Lenihan and Anthony O’Connor also helped their loan clubs to important victories.

All four loanees are due back at Rovers over the next few weeks and Gary Bowyer must decide whether to integrate them into his first-team squad given the restrictions he faces in the market – and quite possibly beyond – next month.

The embargo placed on the club for failing Financial Fair Play means Rovers will not be able to pay fees for players until the summer at least.

They will, however, be able to make loan signings and free transfers provided their squad contains fewer than 24 ‘established’ players.

‘Established’ players are those aged 21 or above on June 30, 2014 who have made at least five first-team starts for their current clubs.

Rovers currently have 22 ‘established’ players.

But that number will rise to 23 on January 1 when Bradley Orr officially returns.

And it could rise again if Fleetwood Town opt against renewing Josh Morris’ loan and if Derby County activate a break clause in Leon Best’s season-long deal.

Should Rovers reach the maximum 24 ‘established’ players they would be able to trade in a one in one out basis.

It will not be impossible, then, for Bowyer to boost his squad in the second half of the season. It will, however, be more difficult than before.

The Rovers boss, therefore, may choose to bolster his ranks by refusing to allow O’Connell, O’Sullivan, O’Connor and Lenihan to go back out on loan as they are not considered ‘established’ players.

But the problem Bowyer could face is the quartet’s desire to continue playing first-team football, something that would not be guaranteed at their parent club.

There is no question Rochdale, Stanley, Plymouth Argyle and Burton Albion would like to retain the serves of O’Connell, O’Sullivan, O’Connor and Lenihan respectively.

But, in the cases of O’Connell and O’Sullivan, they could have offers from elsewhere.

Centre-back O’Connell’s impressive displays for Dale in League One have caught the eye of clubs higher up the League ladder, as have O’Sullivan’s for Stanley, with Preston North End believed to be among the midfielder’s potential suitors.

Defender Lenihan, though, is just starting out at Burton while O’Connor has made it clear he would like to remain at Plymouth after his loan expires on January 10.

The defender-turned-midfielder said: “I don’t want to go back to Blackburn and probably sit on the bench a couple of times or whatever and play 21s football.

“It’s not for me anymore.”