December 22, 2024

Blackburn Rovers will welcome Andrew Moran back into the squad against Millwall but will be without Lewis Travis for two weeks.

The captain has picked up a calf injury and will face 10 days to a fortnight on the sidelines after picking up the knock as a substitute against Cardiff City.

Moran trained for the first time on Monday with the team after picking up an ankle issue on international duty with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s. He’ll travel with the team and be available to Tomasson.

Scott Wharton is also back for Rovers after missing the Cardiff win due to a tight hamstring. Harry Leonard won’t be involved and will instead play for Mike Sheron’s Under-21s against Burnley on Tuesday to build up his fitness.

“We have not got Sam Barnes, Sam Gallagher is doing better, he’s building his fitness but he’s not there yet,” Jon Dahl Tomasson said. “Aynsley Pears the same.

“Lewis Travis got injured yesterday, nothing serious but he’ll be out for about two weeks. Trav is a warrior, he’s a machine and he can normally play every game so that’s disappointing for him and for us. The positive thing is that it’s not too long.

“Scott Wharton is back and he trained yesterday. Andrew Moran today and he will travel with the team. Harry Leonard will play against Burnley for the Under-21s, he’ll play 50/60 minutes maximum to get him up to speed.

“He’s trained four times with the team but the last physical load was in September.”

Tomasson also revealed that Pears will be out for a further month as he recovers from an ankle injury. The initial diagnosis was one month on the sidelines after he came off against Middlesbrough four weeks ago.

Sam Gallagher is closer to a return having been expected to come back around November. The striker is outside running and building his fitness and could make a return before the next international break.

“If everything goes right, he will probably get rid of the crutches and the boot soon,” Tomasson said. “Then he will have a week and he can get used to the ball and training again.

“Yeah, I think double the initial four weeks. Sam, it’s difficult to say, he’s outside and building his fitness. He is building what his body should be able to handle.

“I’d say let’s wait and see but it shouldn’t be another month. Maybe, two, three weeks. But every week is important at the end to go on to the next stage.”

 

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