ROVERS are set to make exciting attacker Jack Payne their second arrival of the January transfer window.

Payne has starred on loan for Oxford United in the first half of the season, scoring seven times, and was their standout player in Rovers’ 4-2 league win at the Kassam Stadium in November.

He was recalled by parent club Huddersfield Town yesterday and the Lancashire Telegraph understands the 23-year-old will be unveiled as a Rovers player today on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Rovers boss Tony Mowbray lavished praise on the left-footer following the win over Oxford earlier this season in which Payne scored.

Mowbray has been keen to add more creativity to his ranks following the loss of Middlesbrough loanee Harry Chapman to injury.

And left-footer Payne would further boost competition in the forward areas following the arrival of Newcastle United’s Adam Armstrong last week.

Payne came through the ranks at Southend, playing 88 times for the Roots Hall side before moving to Huddersfield in 2016.

He scored four times in 28 Championship appearances for the Terriers in 2016/17 before being loaned out to Oxford following Huddersfield’s promotion to the Premier League.

During his time with Pep Clotet’s men he netted three times in the league, as well as laying on nine assists, the third most in the division. He also scored four times in four Checkatrade Trophy appearances.

Mowbray is keen to strengthen his Rovers squad but insists any new arrivals won’t be replacing anyone, with his side currently on a 15 match unbeaten run.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph after the weekend win over Shrewsbury: “They are not done until they are done.

“When the games come you almost park them up over the weekend but I’d hope in the early part of the week we’d have something to mention.

“I do publicly want to say I’m not trying to replace anyone because they have shown a fantastic desire, but it’s to help and strengthen the group.

“We saw the bench was still very young, some of those played at Middlesbrough (for the Under-23s on Sunday) so we’re hoping to strengthen and finish the window stronger than we went in to it.”

Rovers are also hopeful of a positive outcome in their pursuit of Fleetwood Town full back Amari’i Bell.

Mowbray wants to add competition to left back Derrick Williams, with Bell the primary target.

The 23-year-old is out of contract in the summer but Rovers are keen to snare him in the January window with a reported £300,000 offer on the table.

Bell has continued to be part of the Fleetwood squad despite Rovers’ interest, earning praise from Cod Army boss Uwe Rosler after the weekend win at Southend.

Ahead of the meeting between the two sides on Saturday, Rosler told the Blackpool Gazette: “As far as I know everything is well reported. There is a bid in from Blackburn Rovers, that is what I know.

“You saw Amari’i playing on Saturday. He was absolutely committed.

“Obviously he had thoughts in his head but how professionally he played on Saturday. I’m delighted and I wasn’t sure I was going to start him after what I had read and heard.

“I asked him, ‘Can I trust you?’ and he said, ‘Yes, always’. He repaid me big time on Saturday. I think he was very good.

“It was credit to him as a human being. It is not easy under those circumstances for a young player like that to think about his future.

“He has to make a decision, and still performing like he did I take my hat off to him.”