It wasn't just the result from their 4-2 defeat at QPR in the final game before the international break that was damaging for Blackburn Rovers, with the match also taking its toll on two of the club's key players.

Centre back Darragh Lenihan and on-loan left-back Greg Cunningham both limped out of the match through injury, with the duo now facing several months on the sidelines with the problems they picked up in the game.

Defence was a big area of concern for Rovers last season - no Championship team conceded fewer goals away from home than Blackburn's 49 - and with both Lenihan and Cunningham being key figures in an upturn in performance in that area of the pitch in the early part of the campaign, it seems as though Blackburn are going to need some big contributions from other members of their squad if they are to avoid a similar problem this time around.

Here, we look at three players who are going to have to step up for Rovers in the absence of Lenihan and Cunningham.

Derrick Williams

Since returning to a more natural centre back role at the back end of last season, Williams has put in arguably some of the most impressive performances of his Rovers career to date.

They however have been alongside Lenihan, who has largely taken the lead role in the centre of Rovers' defence, allowing Williams to quietly but efficiently go about his business.

That however is now going to change, with Williams likely to be partnered by either 22-year-old Manchester City loanee Tosin Adarabioyo or 21-year-old natural right-back Ryan Nyambe alongside him in the centre of Rovers' defence.

It means that it Williams who will now be taking on the senior role in that partnership, and it could be crucial to his side's prospects over the next few weeks that he does that effectively.

Amari'i Bell

Since the arrival of Cunningham, it has been a difficult time for Amari'i Bell at Blackburn, with the left-back starting just once in the league - when Cunningham was ineligible against parent club Cardiff.

It was Bell who replaced Cunningham from the bench at QPR, and with Williams surely set to continue in the centre of defence in the absence of Lenihan, you imagine it will be the former Fleetwood man who comes in at left-back for Rovers for the time being.

Despite holding that role for much of last season, Bell never fully convinced defensively in his first campaign in the Championship, and Rovers will need him to change that if they are to avoid the left-hand side of defence becoming an area that opposition attacks look to exploit.

Lewis Travis

Despite his role as a holding midfielder, these defensive setbacks could have a big impact on Travis.

With Rovers' backline now significantly weakened, it could fall to the 21-year-old Travis to be the one to put in that extra legwork in front of the defence in keeping the ball away from that slightly makeshift backline over the next few weeks.

Indeed, with Travis himself having originally learned his trade as a defender, it could even see him drop into the back four on a few occasions between now and the time when Lenihan returns to the first-team.

[freshpress-poll ]