Tyrhys Dolan is set for two months on the sidelines after damaging his knee ligaments against Birmingham City.
The Blackburn Rovers forward is set for an extended period in the treatment room after coming off early on Wednesday night. The 21-year-old received lengthy treatment on the field, tried to continue, but had to come off minutes later.
Jon Dahl Tomasson's squad has already been decimated by injuries this season. Sam Gallagher, Dom Hyam, Sam Barnes, Niall Ennis, Aynsley Pears, Ryan Hedges and Joe Rankin-Costello have all struggled with long-term problems.
Now Dolan adds to that list to further compound their issues. Tomasson though is focused on the player he does have available and isn't feeling sorry for himself.
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"We were very unhappy with the challenge he got," Tomasson said. "He will be out for seven to eight weeks.
"It's not cruciate ligament but it's damage on his knee and it will take seven to eight weeks. We are almost missing a whole team of players.
"The way he's been linking up play. playing with few touches and in-between the lines and being intense without the ball, was really good. He'd added goals and assists so we are very disappointed to lose him, especially when we have a very stretched squad.
"It's a sad story but we have to look at the positives, everyone is important at Rovers and we are focusing on the players we do have. Everyone is fighting at Rovers and I've said the spirit we've had, every person in the building has a part to play.
"Someone not playing at the beginning of the season is maybe the most important player at the end. We take it on the chin.
"Even if everyone is fit, the squad is young. Tomorrow, it will be even younger. We have to deal with it, we can't change it."
One positive for Rovers is that Scott Wharton should be available to return against Sheffield Wednesday. The defender was taken off with a head injury against Stoke City and missed the midweek win over Birmingham.
Blackburn still need to satisfy concussion protocol in order for him to be passed fit but Tomasson is hopeful he will get the all-clear.
"Hopefully, Scott Wharton will be back," he said. "We hope he'll be available for the game tomorrow.
"The concussion has a protocol and slowly by slowly we are getting there. Hopefully, we will get the green light regarding Scott."
Lewis Travis is suspended for the Hillsborough clash after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Birmingham. With Dolan out too, Tomasson will be naming an even younger bench that in midweek.
Ennis is the closest to returning of those on the longer-term injury list. Dom Hyam was out running on Thursday as he steps up his return but both remain two weeks, at least, if not more.
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