OWEN Coyle says he’s starting to bring the pieces of his Blackburn Rovers jigsaw together as more players return to match action and build up their fitness levels.

The Ewood Park boss gave former Brighton defender Gordon Greer a run-out at Blackpool on Saturday, and confirmed he will cast an eye over the 35-year-old trialist for the next two weeks.

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Shane Duffy and Corry Evans also returned after their Euro 2016 campaigns, while Ben Marshall was back from illness to score Rovers’ equaliser at Bloomfield Road.

Coyle confirmed that the club are continuing to look for players to bolster to the squad, but he is pleased to see more of his existing stars available for selection.

He said: “As we get closer to starting against Norwich, we’re beginning to get those ones back that are going to feature very heavily.

“We’ve not really got close to the team that’s going to start yet. These next few weeks give us an opportunity to do that and we still continue to try to add one or two to the squad, which we want to do.”

Greer, who made two senior appearances during a two-year spell at Ewood Park between 2001-2003, came on at half-time to partner Duffy at Blackpool and Coyle felt he did well, especially as he was a late addition to the squad.

He said: “Gordon did fine. He’d only just met the group (before the Blackpool match) but we know he’s a consummate professional.

“He’s had a wonderful career and played at a very high level last year with Brighton.

“You saw the quality of his play last year and he wants to come in and wants to be part of it.

“So we’ve given him the opportunity to do that in the next couple of weeks, but while we continue to monitor and look at other things, players that we think we can try and add to the squad.

“But he did fine. Young Scotty Wharton, Jack Doyle, getting the kids in and playing again was great.

“Corry Evans managed to get 15 (minutes), Shane played a huge chunk - they only joined us on Monday.

“Bit by bit we’re getting to put those bits together. As we always say, it’s like putting a jigsaw together, getting the right pieces.

“Ben Marshall looked sharp at different times, Danny (Graham) is always a goal threat.

“But I knew it was going to be tough because we’ve worked them very hard physically this week.

“That’s what was pleasing about the character we showed.”

Craig Conway missed out again at Blackpool with the thigh strain he picked up the weekend before, but he should be fit enough to face Accrington Stanley in a behind-closed-doors friendly this afternoon.

Coyle added: “I’m hopeful Craig will play against Accrington.

“I could have probably put him in against Blackpool, but it might have been detrimental so that gets another one coming in.

“Obviously I’ll look to give Shane more minutes as we build into next weekend as well.

“Connor Mahoney missed out as well and I like him, I think he’s got an opportunity.

“So, bit by bit, we’ll start to put them all together.”