Lewis Holtby wishes he could have sparked more in a Rovers shirt as he moves on to pastures new.

Tony Mowbray confirmed Holtby’s contract wouldn’t be renewed after the German midfielder was left out of the squad for the second time in three matches against Rotherham United.

Holtby will depart after two years and 56 games at the club, and while the 30-year-old reflects fondly on his time in East Lancashire, he wishes he could have shone more on the pitch in what has been an injury-hit spell.

He will return to Germany next week to reunite with his young family, before deciding his next move, with coronavirus having had an impact on the decision to part ways.

“Mixed feelings really,” Holtby said of his time at Rovers.

“I can’t wait to see my family, I haven’t seen them for two months again, but at the end I leave a bit with frustration, not achieving what I wanted to, getting injuries and Covid.

“A lot happened in those two years so I feel a bit like unfinished business so it’s football and you have to carry on.

“We enjoyed some great times and some great games together, I’m thankful and happy for this journey, it’s a very nice club with a family mindset and it’s going to be something that will stick in my head and heart forever.”

Holtby arrived as a free agent in September 2019 and he scored three times in his debut season that was disrupted by three months out with a knee ligament injury that also sidelined him for several weeks earlier this year.

His move to Rovers was a return to English football where he had previously had spells with Tottenham and Fulham, but it appears likely that his next club will be back in his native Germany, having most recently represented Hamburg.

Holtby’s signing was greeted with plenty of fanfare, and while he has shown moments of his quality on occasions, he admits there are frustrations about how his time at Ewood Park has gone.

“I wish I could have done more, left a bit more of my spark, but it wasn’t to be,” he added.

“When I think about, two years have gone like that.

“It’s mad how time goes by that quick, it’s part of life. Sometimes if you enjoy yourself time does go quick.

“I really did enjoy myself here, so I’m happy about my time.”

He has been a popular figure at the club during his time at Rovers and hopes that when fans are allowed back at Ewood Park that he could be among them.

“Hopefully as you can see with how Britain is progressing with coronavirus that fans can come back next season, maybe one day I could say goodbye,” he told the club website.