BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer says he has the personnel to cope with the loss of loan star Alex Baptiste.

Baptiste’s return to Bolton Wanderers means Rovers have only one established right-back on their books in the shape of Adam Henley.

That has led Bowyer to being linked throughout the summer with a move for Andy Wilkinson once his Stoke City contract runs out next month.

But the Ewood Park chief, who is restricted to free transfers and loan signings after the club was hit with a Financial Fair Play embargo, is not interested in Wilkinson.

Instead he plans to use versatile midfielders Jason Lowe and Ben Marshall as cover for Henley.

And Bowyer believes that is sensible given another consequence of the embargo is that his squad cannot contain more than 24 established players.

“Alex going back is a loss, as he was a very good signing for us, but we’ve got Jason Lowe and Ben Marshall short term,” said Bowyer who, excluding Chris Taylor, currently has 20 established players under contract for next season.

“As recently as Birmingham City away Ben Marshall was outstanding at right-back and, before his injury, Jason Lowe was terrific there at Watford against Ikechi Anya.

“So we’ve got cover there and, given the restrictions we’re under, we’re not too bad there.”

It is also hoped that teenage right-back Ryan Nyambe will continue his rapid progress.

Nyambe, 17, was an unused substitute for Bowyer’s senior side on two occasions last season, including the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Liverpool at Ewood, and he is expected to sign professional terms with the club.

Henley, who turned 21 on Sunday, will start the 2015-16 campaign as Rovers’ first-choice right-back after an impressive end to the season which saw him win a recall to the Wales squad.

He was an unused substitute as Chris Coleman’s side took a massive step closer to Euro 2016 qualification with a 1-0 win over World Cup quarter-finalists Belgium at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night.

Afterwards Henley, who is still waiting to win his first international cap, said: “What a performance from the boys tonight and an incredible atmosphere. Cardiff was bouncing. Proud to have been a part of such a special Wales squad this week.”

Rovers, meanwhile, are continuing negotiations with out-of-contract duo Taylor and Darragh Lenihan.

The club is hopeful experienced midfielder Taylor will put pen to paper and is keen for the versatile Lenihan, who broke into the first team at the end of last season, to commit his future.

Rovers have yet to agree a fee with Bournemouth for Josh King.

The out-of-contract forward signed a three-year deal with the Premier League new boys last month.

Under the terms of the Bosman ruling Rovers are entitled to compensation for the 23-year-old after he rejected their offer of a new and improved three-year contract.

If the clubs cannot reach an agreement over a fee it will have to be settled by tribunal.

Rovers will discover their Capital One Cup first-round opponents at 10am today.

The fixtures for the 2015-16 Championship season are released at 9am tomorrow.