Blackburn Rovers have made a solid start to the Championship season, sitting in 14th place in the table and six points off the play-offs heading into the international break.

However, things could be looking even more positive for Blackburn had Tony Mowbray's side managed to continue a run of four clean sheets in five matches, which helped them climb up the league table and threaten a potential play-off challenge this campaign.

However, since winning 2-1 at Reading, Rovers have lost two out their last three league games and picked up just a single point in a 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest, with a 2-1 defeat at home Luton Town and Saturday's 4-2 defeat at Queens Park Rangers bringing Blackburn in to the international break in a negative mood.

The defeat against QPR was made worse by defender Greg Cunningham, who is on loan from Cardiff City, picking up a knee injury and being forced off the field after just 17 minutes, having tried to stay on the pitch and continue playing for a few minutes following the injury.

The defender has since returned to Cardiff to have a scan on his knee to assess the damage, and Blackburn will have to wait to see what the result of that is and whether he can still be available for them for the duration of his loan spell, or whether it will have to be cut short.

Here, in FLW's latest Six-Pointer we discuss what issues Blackburn could face without Cunningham and why they need him back fit.

How big a loss do you think it would be for Blackburn if Cunningham was to end his loan spell and return to Cardiff due to the injury?

"It would be a huge blow for Blackburn, considering the impact that Cunningham has had down the left-hand side of their defence in the eight start he has made so far this season, with the defender a key part in Rovers keeping four clean sheets in five games in a run which suggested they are set for a positive campaign.

"Against QPR, Rovers looked a little too open and exposed in defence following Cunningham being taken off the field and that is something which they had troubles with last season away from home - conceding 48 goals in just 23 matches on the road last term.

"Cunningham's experience at Championship level will be very difficult for Rovers to replace and although they have Amari'i Bell in reserve he does not offer the same levels of composure and assuredness in his defending down the left-hand side of the pitch."

Will Bell be able to fill in for Cunningham well enough?

"Bell has been a good addition at Ewood Park since arriving at the club from Fleetwood Town and the left-back was a key performer in the second half of the 2017/18 season, which saw Mowbray's side earn promotion back to the Championship.

"The 25-year-old performed decently last season in the Championship, but does not have the same level of experience as Cunningham and at times leave himself too exposed down the left-hand side of the pitch so it could be an issue, but he certainly be more than able of doing a job if needed in Cunningham's absence."

Will Blackburn need to recruit a replacement in January?

"If Cunningham is forced to return to Cardiff, then Rovers will need to find a replacement in January when the transfer window re-opens, with Mowbray needing extra quality and cover in the left-back position and preferably they would need to find someone with the same level of experience in the Championship to help tighten their defence.

"Were Bell to be injured as well then Blackburn would face a real problem down their left and could even have to move the versatile Stewart Downing to left-back, which would take him out of midfield where he has been performing very well for Rovers so far."

Should Mowbray tweak the playing style to compensate for Cunningham's absence?

"Blackburn secured a comfortable mid-table finish last season without Cunningham, so there is no need for any drastic change to the club's style, but perhaps away from home Mowbray will need to offer a little more cover to the left-back position by helping Bell double up on his winger to make it harder for opposing teams to find space.

"At Ewood Park, where Blackburn have a strong record in the last few months, Mowbray should not need to change much if anything despite Cunningham's injury and Bell should be able to fill in and keep the team playing in the same style."

How big a concern will it be to disturb Rovers' back-four?

"Blackburn have been playing with a largely consistent back-four of Elliott Bennet, Darragh Lenihan, Derrick Williams and Cunningham so far this season - and it will be a concern that the strong relationship they have built up as a defensive unit will now be lost.

"But Bell is used to playing alongside those players anyway and should be familiar with the way in which the rest of Rovers' defence operates and therefore it should not take long for a similar relationship to be formed between himself and the rest of the defence."

Should Blackburn be considering a permanent move for Cunningham despite his injury?

"Having been so impressive so far in his spell at Ewood Park, Cunningham will have been confident of potentially earning a permanent move to Blackburn following the end of his loan spell from Cardiff, and Rovers would probably have been keen to do a deal before this injury set back.

"Depending on how serious the knee injury proves to be, Rovers could still be tempted to try and sign him permanently but that could be a risk they might not want to take given they do not know how well he will recover at this stage."