Tony Mowbray has admitted that Blackburn Rovers are facing a number of defensive injury concerns ahead of their Championship clash with Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Centre back Darragh Lenihan, who missed last week's 2-0 defeat at Fulham due to a knee problem, is still a doubt, while Manchester City loanee Tosin Adarabioyo, who replaced Lenihan at Craven Cottage, is also a concern after picking up a knock in that game.

Rovers now look particularly short at centre back following those injuries to Lenihan and Adarabioyo, having already allowed club captain Charlie Mulgrew to join Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan on the final day of the summer transfer window.

Newly-appointed captain Elliott Bennett, who has played the opening two games of the season at right-back is also thought to be a doubt for the game.

Discussing his options for the Middlesbrough game following Blackburn's 3-2 win over Oldham in the opening round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph: “Bennett has a knock. He’s been walking around with ice on but he is a warrior and could have half his leg hanging off and he would still be wanting to play.

“The only concern at the moment is Tosin. He has picked up a little knock.

“Lenihan is another concern and if both Tosin and Lenihan miss the weekend then we are really thin."

Asked about the chances of either of the pair featuring on Saturday, Mowbray revealed: “I’d be pretty hopeful that one of them will make it for the weekend."

One option that Blackburn do have at centre back is Derrick Williams, who ended last season in that position, and played there at Fulham as well.

[ad_pod ]

Ryan Nyambe can also be used in the centre of defence, although he may be required to operate in his natural right-back position if Bennett is unable to feature.

The Verdict

It seems that Blackburn's transfer window activity is already coming back to haunt them.

Having failed to add to their numbers at centre back, the decision to let Charlie Mulgrew leave on loan seemed a strange one as it was, and already Rovers look to be regretting that move.

With Mowbray admitting that injuries to both Lenihan and Adarabioyo would leave them 'really thin' it does make you wonder why it has been allowed to get this way, given they have just had the entirety of the summer transfer window to address that.

It will be interesting to see just who makes up Rovers' defence at Ewood Park on Saturday, and you feel that following this latest update, Middlesbrough's own attackers will be just as keen to find that out.