FOUR signings through the door, with one more to follow shortly, it’s safe to say new Blackburn Rovers boss Owen Coyle has not hung around.

With just 14 senior outfield players on the books when he took over the Ewood Park hotseat three weeks ago, Coyle needed too.

But while full judgement will be reserved until we see the new boys in action, which is the case with any recruits, there is no doubt the captures he has made have caught the imagination of Rovers fans.

Anthony Stokes and, especially, Danny Graham feel like real statements of intent.

Stephen Hendrie and, in particular, Jack Byrne come highly rated, and while Liam Feeney’s arrival will not be greeted with the same fanfare as the club’s new strike duo, he returns to Rovers with a point to prove after impressive spells at Ipswich Town and Bolton Wanderers.

Lancashire Telegraph:

So who, and how many, will be next through the door following the first batch of five? Let’s ask the man himself.

“It will be one signing at a time as we have to look at what we have financially available to us and then it’s about the assessing the group we have,” said Coyle, who will meet the players he has inherited and has signed when Rovers return to training on Monday.

“There’ll be a number of players you’ll have admired from a distance and there’ll be some, when you start to work with them on a daily basis, that’ll catch your eye.

“All I want to do is continue to try and improve the squad we have. The Championship next season is probably going to be the toughest it’s been so we have to make sure we’re ready for each and every challenge.

“If there’s one or two players out there who we can think can help us, financially permitting, we’ll try and bring them to the club.”

Rovers are a goalkeeper down after Simon Eastwood was informed, along with Matt Kilgallon, Lee Williamson, Chris Taylor, Simeon Jackson, Chris Brown and Nathan Delfouneso, that his contract would not be renewed.

But is there any point bringing in a stopper to play third fiddle to Jason Steele and David Raya while potentially taking valuable minutes away from Andrew Fisher in the under-21s?

Rovers are also well-served at centre-back with Grant Hanley, Shane Duffy and Elliott Ward set to battle it out for two spots. Darragh Lenihan and Hendrie are also capable of playing there and there are high hopes for Scott Wharton.

That may change if Duffy, whose stock has risen after his superb performance for Republic of Ireland in their Euro 2016 win over Italy, or in-demand captain Hanley are the subject of big bids. That, however, is for another day.

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A more pressing concern is the full-back areas. A new left-back will be needed, to compete with Hendrie, if Tommy Spurr opts for a better or longer deal elsewhere, and while the club has plenty of options at right-back, a decision must be made about who is going to play there. Ben Marshall, Jason Lowe and Adam Henley have all occupied the position at varying stages in recent seasons.

Feeney will be bring some much-needed pace to the wide areas and will complement Craig Conway, Elliott Bennett and, if he is stationed there, Marshall. John O’Sullivan also returns to the fray, aiming to show he can make the grade in the Championship, while teenager Connor Mahoney will be determined to build on the breakthrough he made at the back end of last season.

Coyle has an abundance of options in midfield in the form of Lenihan, Lowe, Corry Evans, Hope Akpan and Danny Guthrie. That said more creativity and goals are required from the centre of the park and Coyle will be hoping Manchester City starlet Byrne, a player blessed with natural talent and confidence, will add those qualities.

Up front Coyle is confident Graham and Strokes will strike up a potent partnership but he admits, with no other forwards in the squad, back-up is required.

He said: “Would we love to add to the striking department? Absolutely.

“But we’ll just have to wait and see what the next few weeks bring but it’s exciting times and we’re all enjoying what we’re trying to do at Blackburn Rovers.”

Rovers’ squad as it will stand after the signing of Byrne is confirmed: David Raya, Jason Steele; Shane Duffy, Grant Hanley, Stephen Hendrie, Adam Henley, Elliott Ward; Hope Akpan, Elliott Bennett, Jack Byrne, Craig Conway, Corry Evans, Liam Feeney, Danny Guthrie, Darragh Lenihan, Jason Lowe, Connor Mahoney, Ben Marshall, John O’Sullivan; Danny Graham, Anthony Stokes.