Relegation rivals Blackburn dealt huge survival blow as former Portsmouth man likely ruled out for season
Blackburn Rovers boss has confirmed the news over the former Pompey man’s injury - and it’s not good for the Blues’ Championship relegation rivals.
Blackburn Rovers have been handed a sizeable setback in their bid to remain in the Championship as Hayden Carter was likely ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
Rovers boss Michael O’Neill confirmed the former Pompey loanee isn’t expected to play again this term, after suffering a hamstring injury against Millwall.
Blackburn will be ‘lucky’ to see Hayden Carter again this season
The man who scored a late, late leveller in the Blues’ 1-1 draw at Ewood Park earlier this month has been given a six-week time frame for being sidelined, covering the period until the end of the campaign.
It’s a sizeable blow for Rovers who are entrenched in the Championship relegation dogfight, but three points clear of Pompey after a 0-0 draw at home to high-flying Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The man who made a big impression at Fratton Park while spending the second half of the 2021-22 season with Pompey has a history of hamstring issues, which factors into Blackburn’s thinking over not rushing the 26-year-old back.
O’Neill confirmed the news over Carter, after his team’s meeting with Boro on Saturday.
He told the club’s website: 'It’s unfortunately not good.
'The hamstring injury he’s picked up is probably going to be six weeks.
'If we see Hayden before the end of the season - which we’d love to do - I think we’ll be lucky.
'Hayden’s a top centre-back at this level and I think everyone at the club knows that.
'He’s had an unfortunate time with injury and we just want him to be healthy, fit and playing, because then he’ll be happy.
'I’m gutted for the lad because I know what he’s gone through to try and make sure he’s fit.
'He’ll be back and I hope he can come back and we’re still a Championship club.'
Rovers have 4 players out for season since new boss arrived
Carter, who made 22 appearances for Pompey under Danny Cowley, expressed his disappointment over the injury news.
In a post on Instagram, he said: ‘Gutted. Probably one game too many. I’ll do everything to get back as soon as possible but in the meantime I’ll be supporting the team to get the results we need.’
Carter’s injury would make him the fourth Blackburn player to be ruled out for the season, since O’Neill became the club’s head coach on a short-term basis in February.
He joins Lewis Miller, Sondre Tronstad and Andri Gudjohnson, who have all undergone surgery for different issues.