Bristol Rovers transfer target recalled from loan by Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers have recalled James Brown from his season-long loan at League Two outfit Stockport County. Brown was due to spend the entirety of the 2022/23 season at Edgeley Park, but his stay with the Hatters has been cut short.

Brown is a former transfer target of Bristol Rovers, and it was at this point last year that they had been linked with a move for him. The 24-year-old was said to have had a two-week trial period lined up with Rovers, but that Blackburn had also been interested also.

The Championship club in the end won his signature and he joined on a free transfer from League of Ireland outfit Drogheda United. Brown has spent almost the entirety of his career in Ireland, with 119  appearances for Drogheda and Shelbourne, with a combined 14 assists and four goals.

Blackburn’s recall of the defender could either be to beef up their squad to deal with injuries or they could be assessing his future, as they try to secure a better loan. Callum Britain faces a spell on the sidelines having been found to have a partial tear of his medial collateral ligament, which will keep him out for the next few weeks.

At Stockport, Brown played 22 games across all competitions, and had been their starting right-back for a period but was in and out of the side. Brown did not play in the FA Cup defeat to Walsall on the weekend.

Rovers may need to recruit full-backs in the transfer window given they allowed Trevor Clarke to return to Ireland with Shamrock. Clarke - who only signed a two-year deal in the summer has joined the champions Shamrock Rovers, and will be there from February until November.

Harry Anderson and Lewis Gibson meanwhile have suffered an injury setback, and will be out for the next fortnight. Both players had their issues over the last month, with Anderson only just returning to action, but a groin problem for both will see them out of action for a short period.

Anderson is a utility man for Rovers, and whilst he is predominantly a winger, he has filled in at both left-back and right-back. Gibson, on a season-long loan from Everton is mainly seen at centre-back, but filled in at full-back last month.