Rovers will work to get more of their young players opportunities in the EFL having been left ‘frustrated’ by the lack of loan enquiries.

Despite the club being the only Championship side competing in the top division of Academy football last season, there were very few opportunities afforded to players going out on loan.

While the club have prioritised their high-potential players by keeping them around the first-team squad, others have been overlooked for loan experience.

Central defender Hayden Carter is an example of the importance that loan moves can have, with the 23-year-old enjoying a breakout 2023 after loan spells in League One at Burton Albion and Portsmouth in the previous two seasons.

Yet many of Rovers’ other Academy graduates have broken into the first-team without loan experience, while others have had to either drop into non-league or stay in the Under-21s for longer than the club would otherwise like.

It is something they hope to change in the forthcoming summer, with the feeling that many are ready for a taste of senior football.

Head of Academy Stuart Jones believes Rovers have been too often overlooked when it comes to players searching for players on loan.

Jones believes clubs in League One and League Two says there is a ‘frustration’ that ‘the phone doesn’t ring as much’ as it does for Premier League players.

While top-flight clubs naturally have bigger squads who may be more readily available, Jones believes that Rovers competing against the top academies in the country should make them an attractive proposition.

While many of the players to have broken into the Rovers first-team of late have done so without the need for loan experience, others have been able to forge careers in the EFL based upon such experiences.

Dan Butterworth will be hoping to be the latest of those following his release, having spent the 2022/23 season with Port Vale and having finished the previous campaign with Fleetwood Town.

Sam Burns had a short spell with Scunthorpe United in 2022, though right back Dan Pike had to go into non-league with AFC Fylde for his senior experience, with both now searching for new clubs.

“There’s no doubt within the club we try and do it,” Jones said of getting players’ opportunities.

“It’s a bit of a frustration really because sometimes EFL clubs will look at the Premier League, bigger clubs to a point, and go there first.

“That’s a frustration for us because we’ve clearly got some talented players that can go and play league football.

“If you look at the Under-21s we were the only club in the Championship to be competing at the top level and we know we have talented players.

“There is a bit of a frustration in that maybe the phone doesn’t ring as much for our players as it does the Premier League clubs.

“That’s the challenge for us really, but we do try and push as much as we can from within the building to get our players out on loan if it’s right.

“Sometimes it’s not and we’ve kept them around the first-team which has been the right thing to do.”

Rovers have tended to prioritise loan moves for central defenders, with Tyler Magloire, Matty Platt, Joe Grayson, Scott Wharton and Carter having tasted time away from Ewood Park in recent seasons.

Sam Barnes, who missed the majority of last season with an ACL injury but who is back fit, will be among those who the club will look to secure a loan move for, with fellow central defender Pat Gamble as well as attacker Ethan Walker likely to be under consideration.

Goalkeepers Joe Hilton and Jordan Eastham, who both signed new deals in May, will also be keen on more senior experience, while Felix Goddard impressed during a spell with Bamber Bridge last season.

One thing that is clear is the club’s commitment to the Academy who are continuing to produce players for the senior side.

“What I would say is that, and Gregg spoke about it when he came in, the importance of the Academy to the football club,” Jones added.

“There’s no doubt it’s a big part, and we’ve been successful in terms of producing players and ultimately if that continues to happen then it’s been a success.”