Paul Downing has been allowed to leave Rovers on loan for the rest of the season.

Downing has joined League One side Doncaster Rovers and could make his debut in their FA Cup tie with Oldham Athletic on Saturday.

The 27-year-old, who has played four times this season, had been set for a permanent move away from Ewood this month, to another League One promotion-chaser. But he makes the move to the Keepmoat Stadium, where Rovers secured promotion back to the Championship in April, until May.

Downing sees his current deal at Ewood Park expire in the summer, though there is a 12 month option to extend that, in the club’s favour.

The defender signed for Rovers in the final hours of the 2017 summer transfer window, initially on loan from MK Dons. That was made permanent last January given the impressive form shown by the defender when deputising for Darragh Lenihan, who missed much of last season through injury.

In all, Downing played 30 times to help Rovers over the line, but has seen his opportunities be limited this season.

He has made only four appearances, three in the Championship, and one in the Carabao Cup, scoring in the August win over Lincoln City.

Downing turned out for the Under-23s on Monday after a spell out with illness to maintain his fitness ahead of his move to South Yorkshire. Doncaster find themselves seventh in the League One table, one point and one place outside of the play-off spots.

He is the third central defender to leave Rovers this month after Joe Grayson and Scott Wharton joined Grimsby Town and Bury respectively.