Cantwell nears return but Kargbo out until new year

Blackburn Rovers have good news and bad in preparation for Saturday's visit to Leicester City in the Championship in terms of injuries.

Captain Todd Cantwell is back in full training after missing three matches with a knee injury and will return to the squad, providing there are no fresh setbacks this week.

Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire after Saturday's victory over Southampton: "The signs are positive. He's been on the pitch.

"It's earlier than expected. We hope he has a full week and if that's the case, he will be ready."

But Rovers will be without defender Hayden Carter and midfielder Moussa Baradji until after the next international break in early November and winger Augustus Kargbo will not return until early 2026.

"He came back from the national team with a dead leg. He played at Coventry with this discomfort and against Sheffield United," Ismael added.

"He was complaining and so we did a scan on Wednesday. He had an injury and that will rule him out for at least 12 weeks. It was very tough for us to deal with that situation again.

"It's a tear when he got kicked which caused the dead leg. In an area where you can't run or sprint. It's very bad news for him and for us.

"Hayden is not ready. We don't need to rush him. The international break is coming as well. He is close but we take more caution with him."