RAY Harford had to face up to yet another stunning blow today, as he surveyed the wreckage of a never-ending casualty list which has reached crisis proportions.

Key central defender Colin Hendry, pictured right, is now facing a likely two-match suspension after being booked by controversial referee Steven Dunn - the man who had Southampton seething at Old Trafford on Monday.

If and when it is confirmed that Hendry has topped 33 points, the ban won't start for a fortnight.

But the Blackburn Rovers boss has more pressing concerns, such as putting together a squad for Saturday's game against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Paul Warhurst, taken to hospital for precautionary x-rays last night, is the latest addition to Harford's worries.

He had to be helped off at half time following a bone-jarring collision with Leeds keeper John Lukic.

It was initially suspected that Warhurst had suffered broken bones, either in his back or ribs.

But X-rays last night revealed just bad bruising.

That will be something of a relief, as the last thing the club needs at the moment is another long-term absentee.

And it would have been doubly sickening for Warhurst, a player who has had more than his share of ill luck with injuries.

He had made his first Premiership start of the season last night, but had to be substituted at the interval by Graham Fenton - the man who went on to score the winning goal! With Mike Newell forced to drop out of the squad just before the game, Harford was left with only 14 established senior players available for the match against Leeds.

He hasn't yet ruled out Warhurst for Saturday's game in London, but the utility man must be a doubt and that will cause further problems.

"Fortunately, there's nothing broken," said the manager.

"But he has bruising around his back and the ribcage area.

"Mike Newell has been suffering from a cold virus, and he had a back complaint. He didn't seem well and we couldn't risk him."

Rovers do have some breathing space after the game against Spurs, but that is a vital fixture for them as they attempt to climb as high as possible in the Premiership.

Last night's welcome win lifted them a couple of places and was their first victory in five matches.

Now they need to improve their away form but their resources are so severely depleted at the moment, they have everything on simply to field an experienced squad.

Jeff Kenna has been called up for the Republic of Ireland's game against Russia in Dublin on March 27 - Mick McCarthy's first match in charge.

Goalkeeper Shay Given, currently on loan to First Division promotion chasers Sunderland, has been named in the Irish under-21 squad to face their Russian counterparts the previous evening in Drogheda.

Tickets for Saturday's game will only be on sale until noon tomorrow. There will not be any available on the day of the match at White Hart Lane.

A minute's silence, as a mark of respect to the victims of yesterday's Dunblane massacre, was impeccably observed before last night's game at Ewood.

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