Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has provided fans with a long awaited update on goalkeeper David Raya, after he picked up serious facial injuries in a clash with West Brom striker Jay Rodriguez at The Hawthorns two weeks ago.
Spanish goalkeeper David Raya was stretchered off after 82 minutes after a collision with Jay Rodriguez in Rovers’ 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion. Midfielder Richie Smallwood stepped in between the sticks for the remainder of the game, but Tony Mowbray’s side saw the game out to take a point back to Ewood Park.
Manager Tony Mowbray was far from optimistic about Raya’s injury, after he was sent to hospital with his injuries, returning to Blackburn with a broken nose and several stitches in his face. Post-game, he told the Lancashire Telegraph:
“First and foremost my thoughts are with David Raya who has a really severe facial injury.
“The boys felt like their stomachs were turning seeing the injury to David Raya. It looks quite horrific, and we wish him well and obviously the medical department will take care of that,.”
The ‘keeper looked like he was set to have surgery on his injuries after returning from Spain to see a specialist, but Tony Mowbray has provided Blackburn Rovers fans with an encouraging update ahead of this weekend’s game with Rotherham United.
“He’s all right to be honest,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.
“He doesn’t look like David Raya when he comes to see you, his face is a lot different. He’s not as handsome as he once was.
“He trained today, he will train tomorrow and we will see how he is mentally. The doctors are happy with him but he has to be happy with a mask on.
“I said to him that whatever way we decide, there’s a two week break after this so if he feels he needs more time then we will go with Jayson, or otherwise David will be back in the sticks.
“We will see after training tomorrow.”
The Spaniard visited a specialist for the second time this week, and has been told he will have surgery on his nose in the summer to reconstruct his nose.
“He needs his nose reconstructing. They will probably do that in the summer. David will want that to be done. It is a massively different nose to what he had two weeks ago.
“The specialist thinks that if he needs to do an operation now then he would be out for six to eight weeks.
“In our opinion, and in David’s as well, that’s not something we need to do now. I think his partner will be okay with him as well!
“We will do whatever needs doing in the summer.”
