If this past transfer window has proven anything to Tony Mowbray, it’s the importance of the summer one.

Rovers finished the month with just one new addition, Middlesbrough winger Harry Chapman, having been priced out of any potential further moves.

The six games played during the course of January have also played a part in Rovers’ transfer outlook. The re-emergence and impression made on the first team by Joe Nuttall and Lewis Travis, two players who looked set to go out on loan, has helped boost Mowbray’s options.

Jack Rodwell has proved a more than capable central defender at Championship level, allowing Paul Downing to leave without the need to source a replacement.

In among all that, Rovers have been winning games, moving to within three points of the top six.

Combined with the astronomical numbers being asked for permanent deals and loan packages, including fees and wages, it left Mowbray relaxed about his squad with 17 games remaining.

The boss, who likes to integrate new signings in to his group, rather than throwing them straight into the side, said: “That’s why the summer window is the most important window.

“You buy players early if you can, but as I’ve tried to explain it’s difficult to do that unless you have the money.

“You want to work with your team, put your core values in to the team, the way they play, how they react to adversity, and that’s when you build your team, the structure and the camaraderie.

“In an ideal world you strengthen this group of players who are at the moment on a journey to see how far we can go.

“If players are available at the right price then we would have done that but in January the numbers seem ridiculously high for the players we’ve asked about, particularly players in our division. I didn’t know they (those salary levels) existed.

“Yet, there they are, that’s what you’re quoted and you have to put in to some sort of realism that we’re miles short with salary levels of what some clubs are paying their players. Let’s keep going with what we’ve got.”

Sitting within touching distance of the top six with almost two thirds of the season gone, January could be viewed as the best time to strengthen in a bid to make a push to try and get among the play-off spots.

The boss sees it differently, wanting to keep faith with the players who have got Rovers in to that position, feeling new signings don’t always bring about improvements in the squad.

Mowbray knows there are areas that need strengthening, not least finding someone to take the heat off 33-year-old frontman Danny Graham. But he is reluctant to push through any deal which could harm the team spirit or camaraderie which has been key to Rovers’ rise under his management.

At the time of their arrival, Rovers’ eight signings across the two windows this season were all under 23, apart from Jack Rodwell. Harrison Reed will finish this season as the club’s only loan player, following the departure of Kasey Palmer earlier this month and Ben Brereton’s deal being made permanent.

Mowbray has faith in the young group he has assembled, as well as those coming through the ranks. He has hinted that league debuts aren’t far away for the likes of attacker Dan Butterworth and midfielder John Buckley who have made great strides for the Under-23s.

“The balance of course is the better we do and the closer we are to touching the top six you have to keep the faith with the group,” he said.

“There is the argument of course to say ‘why don’t you improve the group?’ You can have the perception of what might improve the group but it’s not just about talent, it’s about character, personality and driven individuals that can lead the team forward.

“You might get a technically better footballer but he might not have the personality and the drive for what I feel is my job which is to have faith in this group. But hopefully I will know the moment I need to strengthen. That process has already started.

“There are areas we need to strengthen and look to the future, but what I would say is that I’m really encouraged when I look to the future and the youth we’ve got coming through.

“Hopefully before this season is out we will have handed out a couple of debuts for some young players who are really exciting. Hopefully that might save this club a lot of money.

“Ben Brereton is going to be a superstar for this team in the coming years.

“As I’ve said many times we’re just waiting and I think it’s prudent to buy talent not just now, but for tomorrow.”