BLACKBURN Rovers will be without both captain Grant Hanley and star midfielder Tom Cairney for this afternoon’s Championship clash at neighbours Bolton Wanderers.
And in a further blow for Rovers boss Gary Bowyer, who was already without Josh King and Ben Marshall, David Dunn is not fit enough to take his place on the bench after picking up a minor injury after last Saturday’s vital 1-0 victory at Reading.
But it is hoped that Dunn, along with Hanley, who has a calf problem, and Cairney, who hurt his ankle against Reading, will return for next Sunday’s East Lancashire derby at home to Burnley.
Skipper Hanley’s absence means Bowyer has just one fit and available centre-back in Matt Kilgallon.
Kilgalon will be joined in the heart of the Rovers defence by Tommy Spurr.
Ever-present Spurr’s position at left-back will be taken by Markus Olsson, for whom it will be his first league start of the season.
Chris Taylor comes in for Cairney.
Top-scorer Jordan Rhodes will captain Rovers.
Midfielder Darragh Lenihan, 20, and striker Dean Rittenberg, 17, have been named on Bowyer’s bench.
Bolton have also been forced to make two changes to the team which started their 2-0 home triumph over Watford last Saturday.
Zat Knight and Neil Danns replace the injured Matt Mills and Darren Pratley.
Bolton: Bogdan, Baptiste, Knight, Wheater, Ream, Spearing, Medo, Davies, Danns, Mason, Jutkiewicz. Subs: Lonergan, Hutton, Hall, Eagles, Chung-Yong, Moritz, Trotter.
Rovers: Robinson, Henley, Kilgallon, Spurr, Olsson, Taylor, Lowe, Williamson, Conway, Rhodes, Gestede. Subs: Eastwood, Kane, Varney, Dabo, Lenihan, Evans, Rittenberg.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel