Tony Mowbray feel loaning out Hayden Carter will be benefit both the young defender, and Rovers, more than had they kept him around.

Carter has joined the struggling Brewers on loan for the remainder of the season having made just one substitute appearance for Rovers this season.

That’s despite Rovers having had something of a crisis in the heart of the defence of late, with Bradley Johnson preferred to the 21-year-old alongside Darragh Lenihan.

Carter made his first-team breakthrough in the final two games of last season, but injury in pre-season hampered Rovers’ plans of loaning him out previously.

And although Rovers are currently without Daniel Ayala, Derrick Williams and Scott Wharton to injury, and an FA Cup tie on the horizon, Rovers allowed Carter to make the move to the League One club who are under new management after Jimmy Flloyd Hasselbaink replaced Jake Buxton last month.

Mowbray told the club website: “We could have kept Hayden Carter here as a crisis centre half, a young boy who has played in the first team.

“But I think it will benefit Hayden and the football club much more if he goes and plays hopefully 15 or 20 games and understands what it’s all about.

“I think Hayden’s got a real chance of being a really good footballer at a really decent level.

“This is his opportunity to go and do that albeit at League One level.

“I had long chats with Jimmy at Burton the other day. Jimmy’s gone back into Burton and hopefully Hayden will help get him some decent results over the next few months.”

Carter was one of two players loaned out by Rovers this week, and third of the window, after Brad Lyons joined Morecambe and Harry Chapman made the switch to Shrewsbury Town.

Midfielder Lyons has been in fine form for the Under-23s, with six goals in his last six matches, while winger Chapman has struggled to make an impact on the first-team scene.

“For Brad, who deserves opportunities in EFL football, he’s a warrior of a kid who’s started scoring goals as well now,” Mowbray added.

“He’s a roaming midfield player, has scored six in his last six for the Under-23s, and deserves his chance in league football now.”

Tyler Magloire sees his deal at Hartlepool United end this weekend, while Luke Brennan is away on a season-long loan deal with National League North side AFC Fylde.

And Mowbray says going out on loan isn’t always the easiest experience for young players.

“We have some lads out on loan at National League level and they sometimes find it hard to get into the team,” he explained.

“That maybe opens the eyes of young players to go away and see where they are, even if it’s two or three levels below where we are."