Blackburn Rovers

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Blackburn Rovers boss John Eustace has given an update on some of the club's injury worries ahead of their upcoming trip to Hull City on Saturday (kicks-off at 15:00 GMT).

Midfielder Arnor Sigurdsson is a couple of weeks away from a return after sustaining a thigh injury at the start of November.

"We've got to be really careful with Siggy. He came back about three weeks ago and just pushed it a little bit too early so we've got to build him up properly," Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's important when he comes back next time that he doesn't break down so we've got to look after him."

Meanwhile goal keeper Balazs Toth is "still struggling" with his ankle injury and forward Andi Weimann (knee) will also miss out on the visit to the MKM Stadium.

Defender Hayden Carter is recovering from his knee surgery and is currently expected to make his return towards the end of January or early February.

Matthew Cresswell
BBC Sport England

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Blackburn Rovers head coach John Eustace has singled out Tyrhys Dolan for praise following his side's 1-0 victory over Leeds United at the weekend.

Dolan was awarded the player-of-the-match award after his excellent jinking run into the box led to him being up-ended by Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka and a penalty being awarded, which was duly despatched by Todd Cantwell - the game's match-deciding moment.

"He was outstanding," Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire. "Ty’s a fantastic young player, he’s got a lot of games under his belt.

"There’s a lot of pressure on him to perform and when we were playing him in that number 10 role, coming in for Sammie [Szmodics], that might have been playing on his mind a little bit.

"But the way that he’s took to his task the last couple of games has been outstanding."

Dolan has started 14 of Rovers' 16 Championship matches, scoring twice and providing two assists, and Eustace has been impressed with the level of the 22-year-old's performances so far this campaign.

"His work-rate and his endeavour, quality as well, is there for everyone to see and I’m really pleased for Ty," he added.

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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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Blackburn Rovers head coach John Eustace is looking forward to a "big challenge" when his side face league leaders Leeds United on Saturday.

Rovers are coming off the back of back-to-back wins in the Championship either side of the international break, most recently beating in-form Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday night.

Blackburn overcame Leeds at Elland Road in April, a key moment in their run-in which saw them stay in the second-tier on the final day of last season at the expense of Eustace's former club Birmingham City.

However, the 45-year-old believes his side are in for a tough test as they welcome the Whites to Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon (13:30 GMT).

"They've just carried on, they've got a fantastic squad," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"They’ll be in the top six, probably top two I’d have thought, they’ve got Premier League quality- I'm looking forward to a really big challenge."

Eustace did admit his side had made progress of their own since the summer, although he emphasised he was not getting overly excited.

"We’ve shown everyone that we’re a good team, we're evolving as a group and that’s the most pleasing thing," Eustace added.

"I think its very important you don’t get carried away with the early results.

"We have to look at the squad, injuries, suspensions, that could take a toll in the end- the important thing is that this group of players are fully committed and that can get you a long way in this league."

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Blackburn will be without three senior players for the visit of Championship leaders Leeds on Saturday.

Forward Andi Weimann, goalkeeper Balazs Toth and midfielder Arnor Sigurdsson sat out Wednesday’s win at Middlesbrough and boss John Eustace says they will also miss the meeting with the Whites at Ewood Park, and potentially the trips to Hull and Sheffield Wednesday in the first 10 days of December too.

While Sigurdsson has not featured since appearing off the bench against Watford in October, Weimann and Toth are new additions to the injury list, with the Austrian having scored twice in Rovers' 3-1 win at Cardiff in their previous game on 9 November.

"Andi's been playing the last four or five games with a knee injury, which swelled up a little bit on Tuesday," Eustace told the club website., external

"We're not taking any risks with him, we've got it scanned and he's unfortunately going to be out for a couple of weeks, but it could have been a lot worse.

"That shows Andi, with his experience and quality, and how he was getting through games. His work ethic has been great and we'll get him rested and ready to get back to full fitness."

Eustace also revealed Toth had rolled an ankle during the international break, adding: "He’s going to be three or four weeks and that's going to be a blow for us.

"Siggy came back from his injury last week and just pulled up a little bit. He's going to be another couple of weeks."

Middlesbrough's emphatic goal scoring in their past three league games - including six in their dominant displayed over Oxford United on Saturday - has propelled them up to fifth in the Championship table off the back of three convincing wins.

Striker Emmanuel Latte Lath has been responsible for five of the 15 scored in those three victories and will be hoping to add to his tally as Blackburn Rovers come to town on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Rovers' match against Portsmouth was called off at the weekend due to Storm Burt but they will certainly be looking to cause some disruption of their own when they finally take to the pitch for the first time since 9 November.

• Middlesbrough have won two of their last 18 league games against Blackburn Rovers (D9 L7) and drew 0-0 in the most recent meeting in March.

• Seven of Blackburn’s last nine league visits to Middlesbrough have been drawn, with Rovers winning the other two in 2021 and 2022.

• Middlesbrough have lost two of their last four home league games (W2), one more defeat than in their previous 10 such games (W6 D3).

• Blackburn are looking to win successive away league games for the first time since their final two such matches of 2023-24, having beaten Cardiff 3-1 in their most recent such game.

• Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway has netted three goals in his three previous Championship appearances against Blackburn, including two for Bristol City in April last season.

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Blackburn Rovers head coach John Eustace says he was disappointed Saturday's match against Portsmouth was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The game at Ewood Park was the only Championship fixture to fall victim to the weather over the weekend.

"We had a really good week's training, the lads were really looking forward to the game," Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Unfortunately there was a lot of water on the pitch when we got there at 10:30 (GMT) and the rain just wasn't going to stop - everyone was really disappointed we couldn't get the game on."

After the postponement was announced, Rovers trained at the club's Brockhall training facility, having not played since 9 November.

"We trained on the Saturday afternoon which was really important," added Eustace, whose side visit Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

"I think the effort of the ground staff all week has been sensational - they worked tirelessly to make sure that the boys were prepared properly."

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Blackburn Rovers have been handed an injury boost with Amario Cozier-Duberry returning to first-team training ahead of Saturday's game with Portsmouth.

Rovers head coach John Eustace confirmed Cozier-Duberry is in contention to play this weekend after the Brighton loanee was ruled out of the last six matches with an ankle injury.

"Amario's joined back in this week which is obviously great," Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire.

The 19-year-old has been joined in training by Liverpool loanee Owen Beck who had also missed the previous two fixtures.

"We've got Becky back in which is good as well, so, we're getting our bodies back.

"We've got a really big run of games now - 23 games until the next international break - so it's important we get our bodies back and they're all going to play a huge part in what's going to happen in the next couple of months."

Arnor Sigurdsson, however, is a major doubt for the weekend.

"Siggy, unfortunately, had a slight knock on Monday so we're assessing him," Eustace added.

"Its been a really frustrating period for Siggy - he just hasn't been able to get up to speed.

"We hope he gets fit as soon as possible because he's certainly got match-winning quality in his boots."

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Blackburn Rovers' head of recruitment John Park has left his role at Ewood Park, just five months after he returned to the club.

Park had joined Rovers for a second stint in June having previously worked in the position from 2021-2022 but the club confirmed on Wednesday evening he had departed by mutual agreement.

"Rovers would like to thank John for his dedicated service across two spells with the club," a statement said on the club website, external.

"The club will now begin the recruitment process to bring in his replacement, who will work closely alongside Rovers’ senior leadership team at the STC (senior training centre) and the academy."

It comes six months after Blackburn's director of football Gregg Broughton also left the club, with former striker Rudy Gestede arriving and named head of football operations.

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Blackburn welcome Portsmouth to Ewood Park after ending a run of four games without a win by beating Cardiff 3-1 in Wales last time out.

Pompey are three points from safety but won their second game of the season before the international break, a 3-1 success over Preston at Fratton Park.

• Blackburn Rovers are unbeaten across their last five league games against Portsmouth (W4 D1), since a 3-2 loss at Fratton Park in November 2008.

• Portsmouth have lost each of their last three and six of their last seven (W1) away league games against Blackburn Rovers, with this fixture not seeing a draw at Ewood Park since April 2000.

• Blackburn have won both of their Championship games against newly promoted teams this season, having gone nine without a win against promoted teams before this (D2 L7).

• Portsmouth's Colby Bishop has scored six goals in his last eight league appearances, netting in his first ever Championship appearance last time out in the 3-1 win over Preston.

• Blackburn's opening goal at Cardiff last time out was following a sequence of 41 passes before Andreas Weimann scored; only one Championship goal has had more passes in the build-up on record (since 2013-14), a Cesare Casadei goal for Leicester against Rotherham last December (54).

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Blackburn Rovers midfielder Todd Cantwell believes his run of starts have helped him to find his form as he returns to full fitness following illness.

The 26-year-old did not feature in any of Rangers' Scottish Premiership matches this season before signing for Rovers in August but, after some appearances off the bench, has become a regular in the starting XI.

The former England under-21 international has been part of the starting line-up over the last six Championship games for Blackburn and is now looking to impress even more.

"I’m up to speed now with my fitness, definitely, although I’d been struggling with a bit of illness for the last couple of weeks, so I’d not been 100 percent," Cantwell told Rovers TV, external.

“It’s really important now to kick on and show people the fully fit Todd.

"I’ve probably only hit 70 percent so far, which can be deemed as good or bad, but that’s an honest reflection."

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Blackburn Rovers forward Yuki Ohashi made his international debut for Japan in their World Cup qualifier against Indonesia in the early hours of Friday.

The 28-year-old appeared as a substitute for the final 10 minutes in Jakarta which Japan won 4-0 with Southampton's Yukinari Sugawara among the goalscorers.

Japan are top of their AFC World Cup qualifying group, five points clear of Australia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Ohashi, who has scored five goals for Blackburn since signing from Sanfrecce Hiroshima in July, is expected to be involved again when Japan face the bottom side China next Tuesday.

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Blackburn Rovers defender Tom Atcheson has signed a new four-year contract at Ewood Park with the option for a further 12 months.

He became Rovers' fourth youngest player to make a first-team appearance when, at 16 years and 343 days, he featured as a late substitute in their 8-0 Carabao Cup win at Harrogate last season.

The 18-year-old also appeared in Blackburn's FA Cup fourth-round victory over Wrexham last season but is yet to play a league game.

Atcheson, a Northern Ireland Under-19 international, is currently on loan with National League North side Marine.

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There are four Blackburn players who have been called up for senior international duty this week:

• Arnor Sigurdsson for Iceland

• Balazs Toth for Hungry

• Yuki Ohashi for Japan

• Andi Weimann for Austria

Rovers full-back Owen Beck has withdrawn from the Wales squad with injury.

You can keep up to date with how they are getting on using our scores and fixtures list as well as follow Iceland's match against Wales live on the BBC Sport website and Radio 5 Live.