Rovers will look to reduce the number of players within their squad which could see several of their young prospects leave on loan.

More than 30 players have been involved in first-team training sessions this summer, boosted by the return of several young players from loan spells last season.

While happy to work with large numbers in pre-season, boss Tony Mowbray wants numbers trimmed in time for the new season.

Striker Joe Nuttall has featured in just one pre-season friendly and is understood to have interest from Accrington Stanley, among other League One. He scored in an Under-23s fixture at Kendal Town on Tuesday night, where Harry Chapman bagged a brace.

The 23-year-old had looked likely to leave in January, with Portsmouth keen, but Rovers' failure to bring in a new striker saw him remain at Ewood Park. But the arrival of Sam Gallagher has seen him fall down the pecking order.

Scott Wharton has spent the last two seasons out on loan, and could be primed for another spell out on loan, with Joe Grayson, Dan Butterworth and John Buckley also attracting interest.

“There may be some outs. We’re not actively trying to but we’ve been training with 32 players including the Under-23s of course,” Mowbray said.

“The numbers have been big in pre-season but that’s been okay because we’ve been getting them to buy in to the same way of playing.

“But we need to thin it out as we move in to the last two weeks before the kick-off.

“That’s what we’ll be aiming to do.

“There will be some loans out I would suggest. The phone has been pretty hot on loans as lots of our young players had good seasons last year. People are very conscious on that.

“Some young players might go out to give the feel of the squad we’re going to work with.

“The senior players and the odd youngster who could break in this season.”

The departures of Charlie Adam and Jacob Butterfield, who have been training with the club, will reduce numbers as Rovers step up preparations for the new campaign.

Championship clubs have until August 8 to make new signings, though the window doesn’t shut for League One and League Two sides until the end of next month.

That means incomings will be the priority for Mowbray who could still move for an experienced central defender to complement the summer signings already made.

He added: “When I look at the squad I know what we needed to try and create some competition.

“You know as well as I do, if not better, where that needs to be. We will do that over the next two weeks.”