BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness was today left reeling by the news that David Dunn could be ruled out for the next six weeks.

The England Under 21 international damaged medial knee ligaments following a crunching challenge from Fabrizio Ravanelli during Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Derby.

And the initial diagnosis from Rovers' medical staff was that the 21-year-old could now be missing until the beginning of October.

"I think it could be six weeks of a job so I'm absolutely gutted, especially with it being Manchester United on Wednesday," said Dunn.

"I'm on crutches at the moment and they've had to put a splint on my leg to keep it straight but we should know more today after I've had a scan."

Souness was left fuming by the challenge as referee Paul Durkin failed to award Rovers even a free kick.

But Dunn today insisted he bears no grudge towards Ravanelli after the Italian was quick to apologise afterwards.

"I'm very sorry he got injured," said Ravanelli. "I was just trying to win the ball and I didn't mean to hurt him so it was a complete accident."

That apology came as no comfort to Souness, however, as he contemplates the prospect of taking on Manchester United without one of his key players.

But the Ewood boss today ruled out the possibility of a swoop in the transfer to bring in extra midfield cover -- despite speculation at the weekend linking him with a move for Middlesbrough's Paul Ince.

"We've still got plenty of cover in midfield with the likes of Tugay and Craig Hignett so we'll run with what we've got."

Though Souness was disappointed with the overall result, he felt Rovers' perfomance merited at least a point.

"We feel slightly aggrieved that we didn't take something from that game," said Souness.

"I don't think we'll have easier games than that to take something from and we didn't do it."

"If you were a Derby supporter you'd say it was a great free kick but I've got to ask was the tackle necessary there and was the wall in the right place?

"So I think overall Brad had to do two things all afternoon -- pick the ball out of the net twice.

"We had the better chances, I thought we had most of the play and I'm disappointed we didn't take something from the game.

"But I'd like to think luck evens itself out over the course of the season so I just hope I'm right."

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