The impending arrival of Callum Brittain is set to free up James Brown to leave Rovers on loan.

Brittain is expected to seal a move to Ewood Park from Barnsley and become the club’s first signing since the appointment of head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson.

A deal for the 24-year-old, who can operate at right back, wing-back or in midfield, could be tied up as early as today.

In turn, that should allow Brown, who has had loan interest throughout the summer, to get first-team minutes under his belt in the upcoming campaign.

Right back has been a position that Rovers targeted as in need of strengthening after Ryan Nyambe, who signed for Wigan Athletic yesterday, turned down the offer of a new contract.

They identified Brittain as a target in the January window, when Brown arrived at the club as a free transfer after his contract with Irish side Drogheda United expired, and has now been followed up this summer.

As for Brown, short-term deal became a longer-term contract shortly after his arrival at Ewood Park, later agreeing terms through to 2024, with the option of a further 12 months.

He played six times for Rovers Under-23s in Premier League 2, before making his senior debut on the final day of the season at Birmingham City.

Brown then started the Accrington Stanley friendly, but hasn’t featured since because of injury.

Hayden Carter and Joe Rankin-Costello are others in the squad to have played at right back in pre-season, though Brittain is expected to come in as first choice in that position.

And that is expected to see Brown, who had loan interest from St Johnstone in January, secure a temporary move away.

“If we have players coming in here there will be players who go out, which is also normal,” Tomasson said.

“Of course, at the moment we have (players in) that position, if he should come in, then there could be players (going out) on loan.

"Let's see, he (Brown) is one of the players who can go away and find something else.

"I think so (he'll go), he's a great player and a good boy."

Rovers will review a number of their young players, and loan interest in them, once the pre-season friendlies are out of the way, as the club look to step up their transfer business.

Central defence is a position that Rovers are looking to strengthen, which could free up the likes of Tyler Magloire and Sam Barnes, who was impressive in the win at Hartlepool United, to make moves to further their development.

Meanwhile, Tomasson reported that Rankin-Costello, the only player who started the Hartlepool friendly not to complete 90 minutes, was replaced just after the hour mark because of illness.