Tomasson gives worrying Joe Rankin-Costello injury update

The defender came off with a hamstring injury after 63 minutes in the 3-1 win at Carrow Road. Rovers are incredibly short of numbers at the back due to injury.

First-choice centre-backs Dom Hyam and Hayden Carter are out of Friday's game against Preston North End whilst Scott Wharton is now suspended after he was sent off at Carrow Road.

Harry Pickering played the final half an hour at centre-back against Norwich with Callum Brittain shifting to left-back. It meant captain Lewis Travis was forced to play as a makeshift right-back once Rankin-Costello went off injured.

READ MORE: JDT reaction to Rovers' win and 'soft' red card

The 24-year-old has been fantastic for Rovers wherever he has played in 2023 but Tomasson fears it's a bad injury with added concern due to his history of hamstring issues from his younger days.

"It doesn't look great," Tomasson said. "He will have a scan tomorrow but Joe has a history regarding hamstrings.

"When he was at the academy, he had a lot of issues. Hopefully, we'll keep our fingers crossed but it doesn't look great at the moment."

"Harry Pickering went from left-back to a central defender, he coped well with the situation. It's not the best situation.

"We cut the budget in the summer, it was difficult to get players in. We let Ayala and Phillips go and we only got James in. He is playing excellent, very good football, a leader.

"We have to cope with it, that's why our CEO didn't put the biggest expectation out there."

Rovers will consider whether to contest Wharton's red card and will make a decision on Monday whether they will submit an official appeal. Tom Atcheson and Jake Batty were the substitute defenders against Norwich City but neither of them have played a minute in the Championship.

Pat Gamble didn't travel with the team or play for the Under-21s. He will be involved in an internal game at Brockhall on Monday for those who didn't feature over the weekend.