Blackburn Rovers suffer double injury blow ahead of Portsmouth trip as crisis continues
Blackburn Rovers sit one point ahead of Pompey ahead of this Saturday’s Championship showdown.
Blackburn Rovers’ early-season injury woes are expected to continue at Fratton Park this Saturday.
Rovers are poised to be without Yuri Ribeiro on the south coast, with the left-back sustaining a hamstring issue in their 3-1 triumph over Millwall last time out.
The 29-year-old was withdrawn just 15 minutes into the Ewood Park contest and became the latest member of Tony Mowbray’s squad to be sidelined through injury.
Blackburn could also be without Ryan Alebiosu, with the defender struggling with illness.
The right-back was taken off at half-time due to tonsillitis and is expected to undergo a fitness test this week.
Blackburn injuries mount ahead of Pompey trip
The pair join Mathias Jorgensen, Yuki Ohashi, Scott Wharton, Lewis Millar, Augustus Kargbo and Matty Litherland on the sidelines as Mowbray’s injury concerns mount ahead of Saturday’s Championship showdown with Pompey.
And providing the injury latest, the Blackburn boss explained why Ribeiro and Alebiosu were both withdrawn in the win over Millwall.
He told BBC Radio Lancashire: ‘Ribeiro has a muscle strain; it's his hamstring, I think.
‘Again, probably through the load he's had to do. That's with no training other than a few rondos standing around, popping the ball about and a few stretches.
‘It's the physicality of the games over the last week that have caught him out. I think Ryan is more illness than injury.
‘I am not 100 per cent sure but he was in the physio game, who came to see me. He's said he isn't feeling well and didn't during the week, he missed a day of training.
‘The doctor thought it might be tonsillitis during the week. Whether that's flared up again, we'll have to see.
‘I don't think it is a muscle injury that will keep him out for any amount of time.’
As Mowbray looked to strengthen his squad after the window, a move for midfielder Ryotaro Ito recently collapsing.
Rovers were in talks to sign the 28-year-old on a free transfer following his exit from Belgian outfit Sint Truidense in the summer.
Injuries in the middle of the park have subsequently forced Mowbray to rely heavily on 35-year-old Sam Morsy and Kristi Montgomery in the opening seven matches of the season.
Pompey also missing key figures
While Rovers could be without as many as nine players for Saturday’s trip to Fratton Park, Pompey also have injury issues of their own.
Connor Ogilvie and Keshi Anderson have both been long-term absentees for the Blues with knee and quad problems respectively.
Meanwhile, dangerman Josh Murphy continues to be sidelined after suffering a groin setback against Lincoln City last month.
The trio are expected to return after the international break, while Mark Kosznovszky, who has been out since December, has been pencilled in to complete his comeback in the new year.
Thomas Waddingham and Franco Umeh are also out, while Marko Milovanovic is a doubt for Blackburn’s visit.