Tony Mowbray remains hopeful that Rovers will add to their squad before Friday’s 11pm deadline – but admits hold-ups on loan deals are out of their hands.

Rovers are keen to strengthen before the transfer window closes, but have so far been frustrated in their efforts, with valuations for wing duo Ronan Curtis and Kamil Jozwiak proving out of reach.

That will likely see Rovers turn their attentions to the loan market in a bid to strengthen, but progression in the FA Cup for the parent clubs of identified targets has put doubts over the likelihood of that.

One Premier League youngster is looking to sort out his long-term future at his club before moving out on loan, with Rovers primed should that be tied up by Friday.

Mowbray admits numbers are becoming thin on the ground due to the current injury situation, with Joe Rothwell adding his name to that when coming off in the win over QPR.

That will likely see Ben Brereton, who had interest from Dutch side ADO Den Haag, stay put in this window, with Mowbray not wanting to be left short of options.

Northampton goalkeeper David Cornell, in to the final six months of his deal, is another identified target, but with Christian Walton’s loan deal running to the end of the season, Rovers may well look to make that particularly move in the summer.

Rangers winger Jordan Jones has been linked with a loan move, but Rovers’ targets are understood to be Premier League based.

A left back is also on Mowbray’s wishlist, following the season-ending injury to Greg Cunningham, and having allowed Sam Hart to join Shrewsbury Town on loan earlier in the window, while a central midfielder is a possibility given the injury to Corry Evans.

Wages however, have proven a stumbling block to one potential deal.

Hart's departure has proved to be the only incoming and outgoing at Ewood Park so far, though Charlie Mulgrew did cut short his loan spell at Wigan and will spend the rest of the season back with Rovers.

Asked about the likelihood of signings, Mowbray, whose side moved to 10th with the win over QPR, said: “I’m still very hopeful that over the course of the next few days we’ll be able to add one or two players.

“When I look at my board, the numbers are quite thin. I don’t like huge numbers, I think you have to invest in the players that you like and I think we have some really talented young players.

“The market in January is that you either go and take people out from clubs who need or the money, or you to the Premier League and try and negotiate a deal for a young player that probably is on more than you can afford but his club thinks he needs to go and play and an opportunity for him in the Championship.

“We’re stuck in that gap between waiting for them.

“There’s been a frustration this week about clubs who have progressed in the FA Cup, if they hadn’t, we’d have probably had two in by now.

“That’s football, we have to live by that. Otherwise, how do you improve your team if you’re just taking a free transfer? It’s really difficult.

“You are either looking at the Premier League market, the overseas market, or gambling on a lower league player.

“If we don’t get anyone then we’ve just won two games back-to-back and as long as we can keep them fit, we’ll try and keep going.”