Rovers are anticipating very little January activity with the return of key players on the horizon.

The transfer window re-opens next month giving clubs the option to add to their squads just two-and-a-half months after the ‘summer’ window closed.

The four deadline day captures of Aynsley Pears, Barry Douglas, Tom Trybull and Harvey Elliott added to the signings of Thomas Kaminski, Antonis Stergiakis Daniel Ayala and Tyhrys Dolan, with Stewart Downing returning as a free agent, as Rovers re-shaped their squad.

The signing of Downing took Rovers to their 25-man limit in the squad list that was submitted to the EFL.

With Bradley Dack, Lewis Travis and Elliott Bennett close to featuring again after injury, and Joe Rankin-Costello and Corry Evans to follow later in 2021, the Rovers squad will become stronger by their returns.

A more pressing issue could come in the form of interest from other clubs in some of Rovers’ key players, while the club are also looking to tie some of the squad down to new deals.

Ryan Nyambe is among the first-team players out of contract in the summer, as are senior players Bennett, Derrick Williams, Bradley Johnson, Evans and Lewis Holtby, though Rovers do hold options in the contracts of Joe Rothwell and Dack, who the club have been in discussions with for some time, and stepped up in recent weeks.

Tony Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph earlier this week that he was planning to work with the defensive options at his disposal, and not look to recruit in January, despite the long-term injury sustained by central defender Scott Wharton in the draw at Brentford.

Finance Director Mike Cheston confirmed contract talks are ongoing, but, as things stand, he doesn’t foresee too much transfer business when the window re-opens.

Speaking at a fans forum, Cheston said he ‘expected little activity as the club currently had a strong squad with some key players about to return from injury and a group of academy players establishing themselves in the first team squad’.

Cheston said that while the club could rule out offers for players, ‘there no plans for anyone to be sold’.

He added: ‘The club had been talking to a number of players and their agents about new and extended contracts for a number of weeks’.

Rovers will too hold discussions over the future of the club’s three loan players, and also their own players currently away on temporary spells, with break clauses included.

Rovers are in regular contact with Liverpool over teenager Harvey Elliott and it is expected the teenager will stay at Ewood Park for the duration of the season, while Barry Douglas and Trybull are each trying to cement places in the side since joining from Leeds United and Norwich City respectively.

Charlie Mulgrew, Tyler Magloire and Tom White are all out on season-long loan deals at Fleetwood Town, Hartlepool United and Bolton Wanderers, which can be reviewed.

Mulgrew, into the final months of his deal at Rovers, is expected to stay with the Cod Army where he has become a regular in Joey Barton’s side having played just once for Rovers since returning from a previous spell at Wigan Athletic in January.

Rovers could either look to recall Magloire, and allow Hayden Carter the chance to go out on loan, following Wharton’s injury, or look for an EFL move having impressed for the National League side.

White meanwhile has been out of favour of late at Bolton, following injury, starting just four League Two matches.

Luke Brennan also sees his time at AFC Fylde come to an end next month, while a number of the club's other Under-23s will be keen to further their experience out on loan in the second half of the season.