Eleven players have left Rovers and are still to be replaced, two weeks out from the start of the new season.

Of those that have departed, five came at the end of their loan spells, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Anderlecht) and Barry Douglas (Lech Poznan) fixed up with new clubs, Harvey Elliott trying to make his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans at Liverpool, Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton) is recovering from an injury which cut short his Ewood spell, while Tom Trybull is in the wilderness at Norwich City.

Of the six to leave at the end of their contracts, only Amari’i Bell, currently away on Gold Cup duty with Jamaica, has got himself fixed up with another Championship club, having signed for Luton Town.

Elliott Bennett (Shrewsbury Town) and Corry Evans (Sunderland) will face off in League One, Charlie Mulgrew returned north of the border to sign for Dundee United, while Stewart Downing looks set to call time on his career.

Lewis Holtby is therefore the only player released by the club to be seeking a new club, his next venture expected to be in his native Germany.

How many of those replaced will be a delicate balance of both finance and squad depth, but that number of departures may not be alarming as first may be suggested.

Of the six out of contract players, there were just 50 Championship starts between them and 41 substitute appearances, 16 of them belonging to Downing.

Their departures weaken the squad in terms of depth, and undoubtedly experience, but there will be others left in the building who will be eyeing opportunities upon their exits, and there was definitely a view the squad needed freshening up, with those six having clocked up a combined 26 years of service.

That can come from within, with more chances for younger players, but the lack of new faces that could herald a new beginning means enthusiasm and excitement for the upcoming season from some supporters is in short supply, similar to Mowbray’s options.

However, for example, the departures of Bell and Douglas are covered, at least in terms of a regular start, with Harry Pickering joining in with the squad, Joe Rankin-Costello can offer similar versatility to Bennett, the departures of Holtby and Evans can open the door to John Buckley and Jacob Davenport.

An issue for Rovers is the injury situation, carrying the size of squad they currently are, they can ill-afford a repeat of last season. That led to them using the most players in the division last term, and having been caught out before, they must plan for all eventualities.

The club still has 25 players on the books who have made at least one substitute appearance, above the level which would have seen them able to add to their squad during their previous embargo from which they freed themselves two weeks ago.

Yet delving a little deeper, when factoring in Championship starts, that figure dips to 19 (excluding Harry, but including Hayden Carter and Tyler Magloire who have made two each).

With Bradley Dack and Scott Wharton some way off returning, Bradley Johnson having added his name to the injury list, and Sam Gallagher, Joe Rankin-Costello and Tyrhys Dolan with work to do to get back up to speed, the number soon dwindles closer to a starting XI than it does a matchday 18.

Predicting a Tony Mowbray side last season became something of a futile exercise, but as things stand, anything other than Kaminski, Nyambe, Lenihan, Ayala, Pickering, Travis, Johnson/Davenport, Rothwell, Gallagher/Butterworth, Brereton, Armstrong would be a surprise.

It is worth noting Rovers have until August 31 to add to their squad, and they have used every minute of the last two transfer windows, but by then, five Championship games, and 15 points, will have been contested.

The window comes during the September international break, so will allow for some bedding in, as it did last season, but it wasn’t until November that the season, at least in terms of points, kicked into gear last term.

A productive end to the window, and start to the season, feels even more essential.