Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has confirmed that Joe Rothwell is a doubt for their trip to Middlesbrough after he was forced off with a hamstring injury.

The Rovers came into this game off the back of an emphatic victory over Sheffield Wednesday last week and made it two wins on the bounce with a hard-fought 2-1 win over QPR at Ewood Park.

Starring the show was Blackburn midfielder Joe Rothwell who provided the assist for both of the home side’s goals on Tuesday night. The first coming with a long ball towards Adam Armstrong who controlled brilliantly before curling into the far corner from 20 yards. His second assist was a looping corner towards the back post and the head of Darragh Lenihan to restore their lead.

However, at half-time, Rothwell was forced off with a hamstring injury, making it a bittersweet night for the midfielder.

Speaking after the game to the club’s official website, Mowbray spoke at length about Rothwell’s development at Ewood Park and how this injury leaves the side heading into the weekend. He stated: “I thought Rothwell, getting assists for the goals, was brilliant.

“We’ve talked to him a lot about end product. If he’s not going to score, he has to assist. He has to put the crosses in, he has to pick the final pass for us to score.

“I thought he did really well today. Unfortunately, he tweaked his hamstring and had to come off at half-time, so there’s a fair chance he won’t make it for the weekend.

“I think he’s growing in stature. He’s a wonderful footballer. I’ve always said that, even when I’ve not played him.

“He’s a very, very talented boy, he just needed to learn the other side of the game, the out of possession work.

“I think Joe Rothwell, growing up at Manchester United, he then ended up at Oxford United, where he was a star player. Everybody gave him the ball and he would just come alive.

“In this league, he had to learn to run, to get back, to tackle, to play in the shape that the team plays and he’s doing that now, and we’ve tried to ask him for end product and he’s starting to add that as well, so we’re delighted with him.

“He’s doing exceptionally well and looks a real threat. It’s just a bit of a blow for him, on the back of Bradley Dack and Corry Evans, another injury picked up.”

Blackburn travel to Middlesbrough at the weekend and could be without three of their first-choice midfielders in Dack, Evans, and now Rothwell.

Can you guess what season these Blackburn images were taken in?

The verdict

Rothwell is coming on very well at Blackburn after making the move from Oxford United at the start of last season but is only just starting to make a consistent impact on the first-team.

The 25-year-old registered his first assists of the season in the league last night and it was a sign of his improvement under Mowbray in recent weeks.

Having already lost Dack and Evans, losing Rothwell for the weekend is another big blow for Rovers in what was already set up to be a very tough game against Jonathan Woodgate’s Middlesbrough.

The play-off race has tightened up in recent weeks and Blackburn will certainly fancy their chances after another positive result at home.