Centre back Derrick Williams and midfielder Tom Trybull have become the latest players to join Blackburn Rovers' ever growing injury list, manager Tony Mowbray has revealed.
Both players were forced off in the second half of Rovers' goalless draw with Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, and it seems there is now some doubt over the availability of the pair for the immediate future at least.
Providing an update on Republic of Ireland international Williams and on-loan Norwich man Trybull after the game, Mowbray was quoted by the Lancashire Telegraph as saying: “He (Williams) has damaged his thigh muscle. Trybull has damaged his ribs, he is hobbling about with bruised ribs.”
That setback is expected to keep Williams out of the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming international break, which will come at a good time for Rovers.
Even before the blows suffered by Williams and Trybull, Mowbray had nine senior players - including Bradley Dack, Lewis Travis, Bradley Johnson, Daniel Ayala and Thomas Kaminski - unavailable for Tuesday night's match with 'Boro.
Mowbray is however hopeful that the international break will allow Rovers to get some of those options back into contention for selection, as he went on to add: “We’ve got another game (at home to QPR on Saturday) that we have to get through but we’re looking forward until after the break and then hopefully we’ll have four, five, six, or seven more players available to pick from then and we’ll see how we do."
Following that draw with Middlesbrough, Blackburn currently sit 15th in the Championship table, with 11 points from ten games to their name so far.
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The Verdict
This is a huge blow for Blackburn with the number of players they are already missing, meaning the international break will be a big relief for them.
Even so, the regularity with which they are picking up injuries - not just this season - while failing to get players back from what Mowbray has at times suggested are not serious blow, means you feel some questions have to be asked about why this is the case.
On the pitch, you feel that both Williams and Trybull will be significant losses themselves, meaning Rovers will not want to be forced to play too many games without them.
Williams had arguably been the club's most reliable defender when available this season, while Trybull has slotted in to the heart of Rovers' midfield impressively, and you feel both could have big parts to play if they are to push up the table and potentially into top six contention across the course of the remainder of the season.