From the Championship to non-league, a number of Rovers players are currently out on loan in search of regular playing time. The Lancashire Telegraph has compiled a summary of how each individual has been getting on.
John Buckley
Buckley joined Sheffield Wednesday in the final stages of Deadline Day in search of regular minutes in the second tier.
The midfielder had been limited to a couple of Carabao Cup appearances and a late cameo off the bench at Rotherham prior to heading out on loan. He didn’t get a full pre-season under his belt due to a knee injury picked up against Stoke in March.
Buckley could remain at Hillsborough until the end of the season, although Rovers have an option to recall him in January.
The 24-year-old has made six appearances for the Owls so far, including starts against Middlesbrough, Swansea and Sunderland.
The Yorkshire club have had a tough start to the campaign and find themselves at the foot of the Championship table as they aim to build on last term’s promotion via the play-offs.
The club sacked boss Xisco Munoz earlier this month and recently appointed former Bayern Munich and Germany assistant Danny Rohl, who is set to take charge of his first game against Watford this weekend.
Jack Vale
The young forward also headed out on loan on Deadline Day, joining League One Lincoln for the remainder of the season.
However, Vale is yet to make his debut for the Imps as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury picked up during the pre-season camp in Austria. He spent time at Brockhall as part of his rehabilitation.
The 22-year-old had been making progress towards a return but suffered a setback, Lincoln boss Mark Kennedy confirmed earlier this month.
Kennedy told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: “I think he’s in a good place overall, he has just had a setback. He was well on his way to fitness.
“He played 50 minutes of a game with his parent club, then played a second game and got a different injury in that.”
Lincoln currently sit 16th in the League One table, having won four of their opening 11 matches in the third tier.
The Imps are back in action this weekend when they head to the Highbury Stadium to take on Fleetwood.
Ethan Walker
Walker arrived at Morecambe following a major rebuild, with the club losing a significant number of first-team players after relegation from League One.
The 21-year-old, who joined from Preston North End in the summer of 2022, previously spent time on loan at Carlisle and Fylde among others.
Walker has played six times for the Shrimps so far and got off the mark in the 2-2 draw against Swindon last month, slotting home from a tight angle after showing good feet to beat his man.
After the final whistle, he told the club website: "I just want to get on the pitch and impress, whether that is a goal, an assist, an end product or making something happen in the final third.
We are in the EFL and it is hard for young players to come in and get that experience. Once we get given that opportunity, we have to battle, to fight and keep our place in the squad.
“It has been really easy to settle in, the lads are fantastic and the staff are brilliant. I feel they will get the best out of me.”
Derek Adams’ side sit 12th in the League Two table following a 3-1 victory in their last outing before the international break.
Georgie Gent
The versatile wideman headed north of the border in search of game time in men’s football, joining Motherwell on a season-long loan deal.
Gent, who joined Rovers from Manchester City in 2019, is under contract at Ewood Park until the summer of 2025.
He has made three appearances in the Scottish top flight so far, most recently coming off the bench in a 2-0 defeat at Livingston. The 20-year-old nearly got on the scoresheet in his debut against St Mirren last month but was denied by the underside of the crossbar.
When asked about his Motherwell loan, Gent told The Daily Record: “I’m loving it here. “The lads have been class since day one, making me feel welcome and that has boosted my confidence.
“I’ve got to play games, get experience, be around a first-team environment.
“Just to play the professional game and get some time under my belt, and see how it goes from there.
“The manager has told me to be patient and bide my time, and when my chance comes, take it and keep my spot in the starting XI.”
Stuart Kettlewell’s side are fifth in the table – only one point behind fourth-place Hearts after eight games.
Felix Goddard
Goddard headed to non-league Marine in the summer to continue his development following a spell at Bamber Bridge last term.
The young goalkeeper, who began his youth career in Manchester City’s ranks, put pen to paper over a professional deal at Ewood Park in 2022.
He played the full 90 minutes as Marine beat Halifax 1-0 on Saturday to book their place in the FA Cup first round proper, making a couple of important stops in the second half to deny Luke Summerfield and Kane Thompson-Sommers.
Neil Young’s side have since been drawn against League Two Harrogate, who were beaten 8-0 by Rovers in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
Marine are fourth in the Northern Premier League top flight at the time of writing and have played fewer games than most of the sides around them.
Jared Harlock
The midfielder headed to The New Saints a couple of months ago to get a taste of senior football after racking up nearly 100 appearances for Rovers’ Under-18 and Under-21 sides.
The club currently sit at the top of the Cymru Premier table as they aim to win back-to-back league titles.
Harlock came off the bench in the matches against Aberystwyth Town and Hibernian B before picking up an injury.
The 21-year-old was not involved in the Scottish Challenge Cup win against East Fife over the weekend, which was decided by a penalty shootout.
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