Rovers remain in the market for a central defender before tomorrow’s 11pm deadline – with Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ name back on the agenda.

Harwood-Bellis was one of the first names Rovers considered at the start of the window, along with that of Jarrad Branthwaite.

The Everton teenager arrived on the eve of the Stoke City win earlier this month, agreeing a deal through to the end of the season.

But Rovers’ plan has always been to add two new central defenders to their ranks this month to supplement Branthwaite and captain Darragh Lenihan.

That comes with Daniel Ayala and Derrick Williams still out injured and Scott Wharton a longer-term concern.

Rovers are taking both a short-term and long-term view with this window, with Harry Pickering to sign from Crewe Alexandra for a six-figure fee and then be loaned back to the League One side.

The 22-year-old will be the long-term option at left back, but Rovers were always looking to use their remaining loan space to add in central defence.

Cedric Kipre of West Brom has been linked, largely owing to Rovers’ interest last summer when they came close to bringing him in on a permanent basis when he was leaving Wigan Athletic.

But a younger, less costly, option has always been the preferred option should they be able to do it.

And reports say that could see them bring in teenager Harwood-Bellis on a deal until the end of the season.

Rovers have good links with Manchester City, not least from nurturing Tosin Adarabioyo last season, and their links with the north west Premier League clubs could be about to pay off again.

Harwood-Bellis, aged 19, has made two FA Cup and the same number of Carabao Cup appearances for City, and has twice been on the bench for City’s first-team. He has also played eight times for City’s Under-23s this season.

Speaking yesterday, Tony Mowbray said: “It’s really difficult, because if they’re going out on loan the first thing they want to know is are they going to play? Because if they don’t they will put big penalties in and if they don’t play they will want twice the money.

“You have a centre half partnership that’s done well and kept a few clean sheets so this centre half you’re trying to bring is thinking ‘I’m in the Premier League sitting on the bench, not playing and if I’m going to Blackburn then I want to play’.

“And I’m there saying ‘we have six games in February, these lads can’t play every game, so you’ll get an opportunity and if you do well then you’ll stay in the team’.

“But they might just stay where they are and sit on the bench. It’s very difficult because I’m not going to tell them they’re going to come and play and then not because that’s not how I work.

“Otherwise they’ll feel that I’ve let them down.

“I tell them that they’re coming to compete to play and if they get an opportunity and they do well then they’ll stay in the team.

“It’s not easy to get someone who can come to affect your team because as a loan player they all want to come and play in your team.

“That’s why I’ve said to the owners that we need to buy players who we feel can move the club forward. They might not be ready yet but in two years time they will be worth millions and we’re getting them for a couple of hundred thousand.

“Then if he’s yours and he’s on a four year deal and he’s not playing then he can moan at me, but he’s our player, he can play in the Under-23s, we can give him game-time and he’s coming to work.

“As opposed to the loan player who back at his club are asking what’s going on that he’s not playing and everyone gets disappointment.

“But I’m trying to help the club.”