Stuart Jones believes the Rovers youngsters struggling for game-time out on loan is all part of their learning process.

Scott Wharton has started just 11 League Two matches this season, across loan spells with Lincoln and Bury, while Joe Grayson has featured just twice for Grimsby Town since his January move.

Lewis Hardcastle and Matty Platt, with Port Vale and Accrington Stanley in the first half of the season, have dropped one and three levels in to non-league respectively, to get more game-time under their belts.

Head of Academy Jones says the loan market remains vital in preparing players for the first team, despite the likes of Tyler Magloire and John Buckley graduating from the Under-23s to first team without seeking minutes away from Ewood Park beforehand.

On the current players out on loan, Jones said: “It’s difficult and can be getting it right.

“You look at Joe Grayson who is out at Grimsby, when they go to these places and they play one game and then be out of the team for a few games, that’s part of the process and the learning.

“For me it’s massively important for young players to experience as part of their development, going out and experiencing that in men’s football, whether that’s being in the team, out of the team, it’s all part of the learning process and hopefully when they come back here they can step up in to our first team.

“It’s similar to Sam Barnes who an Under-18. An opportunity came up for him to go out on loan to Marine and it’s been fantastic for him in terms of the style of football and his development.

“When you look at the likes of Wharton and Platt, it’s the same for them. At some point they have to experience that and it’s really important.”

Wharton, Platt and Grayson all made their Rovers debuts before heading out on loan, with goalkeeper Andrew Fisher and midfielder Brad Lyons among the other members of Damien Johnson's Under-23s squad out on loan.

On monitoring their progress, Jones added: “Across the board, Scott and Platty, there will be first team staff keeping an eye on that and speaking to managers, getting reports.

“That’s all part of the loan strategy that we do as a football club, and the same for some of the younger lads that are out.

“We do go out and monitor how they are doing and speaking to staff at other clubs and formulate loan reports on them and how they are doing. It’s done across a number of staff.”