ROVERS defender Markus Babbel today expressed his sympathy for former team-mate Milan Baros after the Czech international was badly injured in Saturday's game with Liverpool.

Baros is expected to be out until the new year after he suffered a broken ankle when he fell awkwardly after a tackle from Babbel.

The German defender, on loan at Ewood Park, said: "It was a shock because it was a normal challenge. I went for the ball, and it was a fair tackle.

"But right from the first second I could see he was in pain, and I felt so sorry for him.

"I feel terrible. I like Milan a lot - I used to sit next to him in the dressing room at Liverpool. He is a nice lad, one of the players I know best.

"I just cannot see how this happened. It was not a bad tackle, just two players going for the same ball.

"After the game, I went to the Liverpool dressing room and found out which hospital he was in so I could visit him and just say I'm sorry that this unfortunate thing has happened."