Tony Mowbray admits he would have liked any prospective signings to have been involved in Rovers’ pre-season friendlies, insisting players brought in during the next week are unlikely to start at Ipswich.

But the boss is hopeful of new faces arriving at Ewood Park to supplement the players currently contracted to the club. 

Rovers are close to securing a loan move for Chelsea youngster Kasey Palmer to make him the club’s third summer signing, with the deal possibly being announced as early as today.

Mowbray is still keen to strengthen in attack, but admits that may have to wait until after the season opener at Portman Road on August 4.

Rovers have until August 9 to make permanent signings, though clubs can secure loan deals until August 31, and Mowbray says there is no reason why those deals couldn’t then become permanent further down the line.

While ideally preferring for the new signings to bed in during pre-season, Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph: “Bringing anyone in at this stage I think it’s pretty unlikely they are going to start at Ipswich because the first thing anyone does when they come in is sitting in the video room going through some intense analysis work and watching what we do, how we play and how they might fit in to it.

“As you saw (against Everton), these lads deserve the opportunity to play in the Championship and give themselves a chance to cement their place in the team and all I’m trying to do is add some quality because injuries, suspensions and fatigue will happen.

“And when they come along we need to replace quality with quality.”

On the likelihood of any new signings before next Saturday’s opening league game, the boss added: “I’m sure there will be and even after Ipswich, that’s fine.

“Like it or lump it, the reality is that you have until August 31. I know permanent signings are until August 9 but we can all do loan signings that will become permanent signings, whatever it might be.

“I’m really pleased with the recruitment department who have worked tirelessly for a few months now on these targets, having so many conversations, staying late to watch players and narrow it down to where we want to go with players that will help our team.

“If we get the ones we want then we’ll be competitive in this league that we have said we want to be.”

Mowbray is targeting at least three more signings to complete his squad following Rovers’ promotion from League One.

And with a strong bond built up between the squad, Mowbray doesn’t want to jeopardise that.

“We’re working hard behind the scenes,” he said.

“Everyone is working hard, long days, starting early and fingers crossed that hard work pays off.

“As I’ve always said we’ll add some players to this group. They have a fantastic spirit and I have to make sure I don’t disrupt that by bringing in the wrong personalities but hopefully we can add a few more to add to what we’ve got.”