Willem Tomlinson is expected to leave Rovers next month in a bid to ‘kickstart’ his career.

The 20-year-old has played just nine minutes of first team football for Rovers this season and the Lancashire Telegraph understands he has spent time training with League Two side Exeter.

League One sides have also showed interest in Tomlinson who has played 10 times for Rovers after making his senior debut in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in February 2017.

With Tomlinson out of contract next summer, Rovers are set to allow him to seek pastures new when the transfer window re-opens.

Any deal is likely to include a sell-on clause should Tomlinson achieve the potential which has seen him be around the first team picture for the last two years.

But he has played just once for Rovers Under-23s in their last six matches, as he contemplates an exit, with his one first team outing coming as a substitute in the Carabao Cup win over Lincoln in August.

Tomlinson played seven times last season, including four times in League One.

When asked about Tomlinson, who turns 21 next month, Mowbray said: “There’s a fair chance Willem will be allowed to go and kickstart his career somewhere else. That’s not 100 per cent though.

“The best thing for Willem would be if he finds a new home, goes and plays football regularly.

“He’s at an age now where for me, he should be playing in a team.

“I feel at this moment that he can’t force his way in to our current set-up and the best thing at a certain age is to go and play, whatever the level is you find, just go and play.

“If you’re good enough then you will come back.

“If he starts in League One, or League Two, then he will find himself coveted before too long if he performs at the level he needs to by a Championship club.

“Let’s hope he can get himself to the Premier League one day.

“At this moment in his career it’s probably best he finds a new chapter in his career.”

Rovers extended the contract of Under-23s defender Joe Grayson last week, but a host of Damien Johnson’s squad see their deals expire next summer.

They include the likes of Charley Doyle, Tyler Magloire, Jack Doyle, Stefan Mols, Lewis Hardcastle, Joe Rankin-Costello and Okera Simmonds.

Rovers have been pro-active with securing extended stays for a number of their senior players, and Mowbray says it is no different when it comes to the development side.

“We are in deep discussions on those things,” he added.

“They are part of our daily talk and we’re fully aware of contractual situations of our young players.”