JOHN O’Sullivan will not be leaving Blackburn Rovers on loan straight away.

The 21-year-old midfielder signed a new 18-month contract last Monday and then admitted he is likely to spend the rest of the season away from Ewood Park.

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Barnsley, having had a bid rejected for O’Sullivan before the closure of the transfer window, are keen.

But Rovers boss Gary Bowyer said: “John is injured at the moment, which his a blow for him, he’s got a bit of a bad back.

“When he’s fit we’ll have a look at the situation because we have got a hell of a lot of games in the next three weeks so it might be one where we keep him around to make sure we are covered.

“If we feel we are in a strong enough position to let him go and get more football then that’s what we’ll to do.”

Darragh Lenihan, meanwhile, has extended his loan at League Two table-toppers Burton Albion until March 15.

The 20-year-old has made 13 appearances for the Brewers, scoring one goal.