MARK Hughes will spend the next few days assessing his walking wounded before Blackburn Rovers prepare for the first of four games against teams in the Premiership's top five at Everton on Sunday.

Hughes has a number of injury worries ahead of the trip to Goodison Park with Robbie Savage, Brett Emerton, Paul Dickov, Dominic Matteo and David Thompson all battling to be fit to face the Toffees.

Rovers' striking resources have already been decimated with the news that Jay Bothroyd is likely to be ruled out for the rest of the season with a badly torn thigh muscle.

That means Hughes can ill afford to lose Dickov as well but the Scotland international is struggling with a groin injury that has been troubling him since the Boxing Day clash with Newcastle.

On top of that, Savage had to be substituted at half-time against Burnley on Tuesday after his groin injury flared up again and prevented him from continuing, which makes him a doubt for the weekend.

And Emerton picked up a nasty knock to the back of his leg during the final minute of the 2-1 win against the Clarets to further compound Hughes' injury problems.

That leaves the Rovers boss anxiously waiting for news from the treatment before he can finalise his plans for a difficult trip to Merseyside.

Of Savage's injury, Hughes said: "Robbie has been struggling with his groin for a while. We tried to get him through the game (on Tuesday night) but by half time there was no way he could carry on, which is why he had to come off, so we'll have to see how he is over the next few days."

Sunday's game marks the start of a crucial period in Rovers' season as they face a run of four successive games against teams at the top end of the table.

After Everton, Rovers must then play Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, plus a huge FA Cup quarter final tie with Leicester City.

Sadly, Bothroyd will be missing for all of those matches and he may even have played his last game for Rovers with the medical staff anticipating he will now be absent for the remainder of the season.

Hughes said: "It's a great shame for the lad. He was distraught in the dressing room on Tuesday night.

"He's had a very, very difficult season. It's been very up and down for the lad at a time when he's trying to make his way in the game and he's now had another set-back.

"We just hope he gets back as quickly as possible."

Meanwhile, tickets for the FA Cup quarter final with Leicester went on sale to season ticket holders only from today.

Season ticket holders have got until close of business on Sunday (3pm) to claim their seats, then tickets will go on sale to fans with a history of purchasing tickets on the database from that point onwards.

Any remaining tickets will go on open sale from Wednesday March 9.

The tie will take place on Sunday March 13 (kick off 1.05pm) and the match is being screened live on the BBC.