Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has provided an update on his side’s growing injury list ahead of this weekend’s clash with in form Queens Park Rangers.
Over the past few weeks, Blackburn Rovers’ injury list has been growing by the game, with key players picking up injuries frequently.
“There are a few players that haven’t trained at all but I’m hoping a few will train tomorrow and we will have some of them available,” the 54-year-old told the Lancashire Telegraph ahead of this weekend’s arrival of Steve McClaren’s QPR.
The first player Mowbray ruled out was goalkeeper David Raya, who suffered severe facial injuries after a clash with former England international Jay Rodriguez in Rovers’ 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.
“David Raya won’t be available. I’m not sure whether anyone has seen any pictures of David Raya but he has very heavily swollen black eyes, stitches across his nose and his eyes are almost closed, so he won’t be available this weekend.
“The hope for him after a meeting with the specialist is that the best case scenario is that he can put a mask on maybe Thursday next week and he can play next weekend.
“The worst case scenario is that they might need to do surgery and it’s six weeks. We will wait and see.”
Next on the absent list is Irish defender Darragh Lenihan, who has been crucial in Rovers’ strong start to life back in the Championship. The 24-year-old picked up a hip injury vs Swansea City, and hasn’t trained at all this week.
“Darragh Lenihan, looks doubtful. He would need to train if he’s going to be in consideration and that’s a wait and see scenario.”
Lenihan’s defensive partner and Rovers skipper Charlie Mulgrew will need to get through training on Friday if he is to feature this weekend, with physios saying he hasn’t fully recovered from a rib injury.
“I’m more confident that Mulgrew will train on Friday, yet he didn’t train today. He was banging on my door at 8am saying that he could train yet the physios at this moment don’t want him to train.
“I’m hopeful that Charlie will train tomorrow and if he comes through that then he’ll be available for the weekend.”
In better news, duo Danny Graham and Jack Rodwell both look set to be in contention for this weekend’s game after both have come out the other side of back issues.
“Jack Rodwell trained today and he should be available.
“Danny Graham trained today. He needs to get himself going, he trained well today and we’ll see how he does tomorrow but he is an important player for us and I’ll let him tell me, he’s old enough now to tell me how he feels.
“He’s of an age where sometimes he manages himself through training and others where he needs to go full pelt. If he feels okay then he will be in consideration. We’ll know more after training tomorrow.”
Top scorer and playmaker Bradley Dack missed out on Wednesday training after complaining of a tight calf, but will hopefully recover in time to train tomorrow ahead of Saturday’s game.
“Bradley (Dack) didn’t train today, his calf is a bit tight but I’m pretty sure he’ll train tomorrow and hopefully be out there on the weekend.
“He has played virtually every minute of the league games he’s been available for and they were tough games last week.
“Fingers crossed he’ll be fine, I’m sure he will.”
Finally, right-back Ryan Nyambe is closing in on his return to the team, after playing in Under-23 games to rebuild his fitness, after picking up an injury vs Nottingham Forest in August. Midfielder Jacob Davenport is also returning to full fitness.
“Nyambe has been back training, he played some of the Under-23s game on Monday, Jacob Davenport the same,” Mowbray said.
