DAVID Dunn has been ruled out of Blackburn Rovers’ trip to Fulham on Saturday after tearing his groin in training.

Dunn picked up the injury ahead of the visit to Aston Villa at the weekend.

His absence may increase the chance of Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina making their Rovers debuts at Craven Cottage, with the January signings likely to feature in a behind closed doors game against Accrington Stanley this afternoon.

Neither featured in last night’s reserve match at Liverpool, when Rovers fielded a youthful line-up, but boss Steve Kean had already indicated that they could come into contention to face Fulham.

Argentinian playmaker Formica and former Barcelona B striker Rochina are yet to be involved for the first team as they build up their match fitness and adapt to the English game.

But Kean may get a chance to assess whether they are ready for their debuts if they get some useful match practice today alongside some of their senior team-mates against Accrington, having both appeared in an otherwise inexperienced reserve team in a 5-1 win over Everton last week.

Kean, however, will have to prepare for the Fulham game without Dunn after a scan revealed he had torn a hip adductor muscle in his groin.

Rovers lost 4-1 at Villa in his absence - slipping to 14th in the Premier League, only four points clear of the relegation zone - and he will now remain on the sidelines for the trip to face Fulham on Saturday.

The club are yet to find out exactly how long Dunn will be on the sidelines but they anticipate that the injury is only short term, with hopes that he may be available once more for the home game against Blackpool and his good friend James Beattie on March 19.

“David has a small tear and it will take a few days for it to settle down, ruling him out of this week’s action,” said a Rovers spokesman.

It is the latest in a series of injuries that has blighted Dunn in recent seasons, with the midfielder missing two months at the start of the current campaign with a hamstring problem.

Ryan Nelsen will also miss the Fulham game with a one-match ban after being sent off for a second bookable offence at Villa Park, with boss Steve Kean repeating his offer for the Kiwi to return to New Zealand to visit his family if he sees fit.

Rovers have a blank weekend after the Fulham fixture because of their exit from the FA Cup, and Nelsen’s home city of Christchurch was hit by a devastating earthquake last week - although his parents and sister emerged unscathed.

“I’ve already said to Ryan that if he wants to back to let me know,” said Kean.

The Rovers boss, however, revealed after the game at Aston Villa that he expects Chris Samba and Roque Santa Cruz to be available against a Fulham side managed by former Blackburn chief Mark Hughes.

Samba missed the Villa game with a virus and Santa Cruz was withdrawn in the second half as a precaution because of a back problem, while Junior Hoilett was ruled out with a slight hamstring injury but could also come back into contention.