DARREN Peacock looks like being out of action for between four and six weeks with a cartilage problem, as Blackburn Rovers boss Brian Kidd faced up to a daunting pre-season injury crisis.

Kidd held a medical roll call at Brockhall yesterday and is already resigned to being without at least SEVEN players for the start of the new season on Saturday week.

Long-term injury victims Billy McKinlay, Jason McAteer, Garry Flitcroft, Nathan Blake and Jeff Kenna are all expected to be too far behind in the pre-season work to have any chance of being fit.

Peacock can now be added to that list and Ashley Ward, even though he only has a bruised instep, will probably have missed too much of the build-up work to be considered.

And, with Tim Flowers on the list, the keeper could go at any time.

It adds up to a real crisis by anyone's reckoning and underlines the desperate need for the club to go into the transfer market sooner rather than later.

Peacock, who tweaked his knee in the warm-up before last Thursday's game against Fredrikstad and had to be replaced by Jason Wilcox, is seeing the club specialist.

Physio Dave Fevre confirmed: "We have had a scan done and he has a miniscule tear."

A keyhole examination will be carried out shortly with the surgeon then deciding what action is necessary.

But it is likely to mean an absence of several weeks and that leaves Kidd very short at the back.

All the long-term absentees are working with the physio and making progress. Kenna has also had a brief taste of match action. But it is not realistic to expect them to be ready for the big kick-off.

Rovers are preparing for tonight's friendly at Oldham, a testimonial game for Boundary Park player-manager Andy Ritchie, but will also have to concentrate on bringing in re-inforcements.

The fact is that they could really do with signing two or three players - as well as probably needing a keeper - if they are to have any realistic hope of staging a genuine promotion challenge.

Rovers were training today and Kidd said: "We'll have to wait and see what we've got before I can name a squad for tonight.

"But I feel as though I am going to have to pack them in cotton wool the way things are."

Oldham won the annual Isle of Man tournament last week, beating Stockport County on penalties in the final after a 1-1 draw.

In their group games, they drew 0-0 with Premiership new boys Watford, winning on penalties, and defeated the IOM 2-0. Ritchie is hoping he might be able to turn out as a substitute for a short spell tonight. He suffered a knee injury a few weeks ago and is unlikely to start the game.

A popular figure at Boundary Park, he first joined Oldham in 1987 and has been there ever since, apart from 18 months as player-coach at Scarborough.

The 38-year-old striker took over as Oldham manager in May of last year.

Tickets are now on sale for Saturday's final pre-season game against Liverpool at Ewood (kick-off 3pm).

Bought in advance, they are priced £10 for adult season-ticket holders, £12 for non-season-ticket holders and £6 for juniors and senior citizens.

On the day of the game, all adult tickets will be priced £12.

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