Blackburn Rovers suffer double injury blow after latest update

Blackburn Rovers are awaiting further updates on Yuri Ribeiro and Ryan Alebiosu after both defenders were forced off during the club’s latest fixture at Ewood Park.

Ribeiro lasted just 15 minutes before being withdrawn with a hamstring problem, while Alebiosu was replaced at half-time.

However, Blackburn are hopeful Alebiosu’s issue is illness rather than an injury. The defender had reportedly complained of feeling unwell earlier in the week, with tonsillitis among the possible causes.

The manager suggested the physical demands of the past week may have contributed to the situation, explaining that Alebiosu had done very little training apart from light rondos, stretching and ball work.

“I think Ryan is more illness than injury,” he said, while acknowledging the impact of the recent fixture schedule.

The manager also explained that he would not hesitate to use a back three if circumstances required it, insisting that selecting the best players was more important than sticking rigidly to a particular formation.

“If I have to then play a back three because they’re the best players, I will do it. I don’t really worry about the shape, it’s how we play and press the opposition,” he said.

He added that Blackburn had previously used the system against Millwall to cope with the aerial threat and came through the match successfully.