Tony Mowbray admits he would prefer some of his fringe players to go out on loan – and believes it would benefit EFL clubs as well – as several face a waiting game until January.

Rovers have a number of players working their way back to fitness, or short of football this season, and turned out for the Under-23s in recent weeks.

Richie Smallwood asked to feature in a game at Derby last month having yet to break in to a Championship matchday squad.

Harry Chapman, Sam Hart and Jacob Davenport have all played for the Under-23s, but chances of breaking in to the Rovers first-team fold appear slim.

Mowbray said: “I think particularly with the financial predicament of a lot of clubs in the lower leagues it would help both parties.

“They can’t carry huge squads and you get to a situation where players aren’t playing enough football at whatever level and it would probably benefits teams to have Championship squad players in their League Two team for instance who might be better than their signed, squad players.

“The rules are the rules and we have to abide by them.

“But there is a frustration with some of the players that don’t play and we have to be very careful that they don’t slip through the net of being on the bench, don’t get on the pitch for the first-team, but miss the Under-23s matches.

“That happens for two or three weeks and then before you know it they have gone six weeks without playing a game.”

Rovers were planning to include several senior faces in the Lancashire Senior Cup tie with Everton, scheduled for last night, only for the game to be called off because of international call-ups.

Instead, the squad had a double session at their Brockhall training base, with no game next week.

The Under-23s return to action at Crystal Palace next Thursday in the Premier League Cup, before the first-team are back in action against Huddersfield Town in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Ewood Park (12.30pm).

Despite the possible lack of match action for some, Mowbray says all fitness data from training is recorded.

He added: “It’s something we try and be mindful of. We keep all of their data from training and from matches to check their GPS of how much distance they have covered, the intensity of their work, what speed they reached, and if they need to top it up then they do extra running, extra work.”

  • Rovers Ladies’ Championship home fixture against Coventry United will now be played at Ewood Park.

After posting record attendances in the first two home games of the season, the club are hoping for a bumper crowd at Ewood on Sunday, October 27 (3pm).

Gemma Donnelly’s side last played at Ewood in May 2018, when goals from Natasha Flint, Saffron Jordan and Jess Holbrook secured a 3-0 win for the National League Champions against Stoke City. Supporters will be situated in the Jack Walker Family Stand, with tickets priced at £3 if bought before the game, or £5 on the day.

Rovers return to league action on Sunday, travelling to face Durham eyeing their first points of the season.