BLACKBURN Rovers star Tom Cairney is undergoing daily medical treatment in a bid to be fit for Saturday’s clash at neighbours Bolton Wanderers.
However Rovers boss Gary Bowyer will not risk the talented midfielder, who came off with an ankle injury in last weekend’s 1-0 victory at Reading, if he is not 100 per cent.
But if Cairney is held back Bowyer insists it will not be because he wants to save him for the big East Lancashire derby at home to Burnley on Sunday week.
Rovers have lost four first-team players to serious ankle injuries this season and their manager is mindful of losing another at such a critical stage of the campaign.
“Tom will be having treatment every day,” said Bowyer, whose side’s win over Reading moved them within four points of the play-offs with a game in hand.
“Hopefully it will be good enough for him to be fit for the weekend because he’s been a massive player for us this season.
“But we’ve got to be sensible as unfortunately for us this season DJ Campbell has had an ankle injury, Corry Evans has had an ankle injury, Ben Marshall has had an ankle injury and Dickson Etuhu has had an ankle injury.
“So we have not been blessed from that point of view.”
Cairney underwent a scan on Monday.
Although the results showed the injury is not as serious as the ones sustained by Campbell, Evans, Marshall and Etuhu, the Scotland U21s international does face a fight to be fit for the short trip to Bolton.
If he does miss out Rovers will be desperate for Cairney to return against Burnley.
But when asked whether he would consider holding the 23-year-old back so he could definitely face the Clarets, Bowyer said: “No, not all. We work game by game and all our concentration is on Bolton.
“If Tom can’t make it – and we’re certainly hopeful he can – then whoever comes in for him, like Chris Taylor did on Saturday, I’m sure will do a fantastic job.”
Josh Morris, meanwhile, has become the second Rovers player to join Fleetwood Town on loan.
The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a one-month deal with the high flying Cod Army, who last month snapped up another Rovers midfielder, Alex Marrow, on loan until the end of the season.
Morris will remain with Fleetwood until March 25 and went straight into their squad for their League Two encounter at home to Plymouth Argyle last night.
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