Blackburn Rovers Injury Updates and Ito Transfer Stalemate
Tony Mowbray believes Blackburn Rovers are finally starting to see light at the end of their injury tunnel – but the move for free agent Ryotaro Ito is all but dead.
Striker shortage eases
Rovers went into Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United without a recognised centre-forward, forced to push Jayden Fevrier into a false nine role with Andri Gudjohnsen sidelined and both Mathias Jorgensen and Yuki Ohashi already ruled out for weeks.
Gudjohnsen had carried much of the attacking load early in the campaign, racking up 418 minutes across the first five matches, and his absence stripped Blackburn of their focal point.
The mood has shifted slightly. Mowbray confirmed the Iceland international returned to training on Thursday and is hopeful he can be involved against Millwall at Ewood Park on Saturday (15:00 BST).
There could be another attacking option on the bench too. Moussa Baradji, yet to feature this season, is edging towards fitness and may be ready for his first appearance of the campaign.
“It’s starting to improve and starting to get better,” Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire, reflecting on a squad that has been stretched to its limits in recent weeks.
“It would be nice to have some more senior players to try and change a game late on as opposed to hoping a young boy comes on and does something quite special.”
Ito deal stalls
While the treatment room is slowly clearing, the transfer front has brought only frustration.
Blackburn were close to landing Japan midfielder Ryotaro Ito, who spent last season in Belgium. The 28-year-old was at the club on Monday and a deal looked within reach.
Now, Mowbray is braced for disappointment.
“I’m not really sure what’s happened,” he admitted. “At this moment there’s nothing happening.
“I genuinely don’t know but, my experience would suggest to me that it’s not going to happen now.
“I don’t know why it didn’t happen. I asked for help a few weeks ago and the club are trying to put some players in the building to help us.”
The collapse of the Ito move leaves Rovers still searching for extra quality and experience in a squad that has been heavily reliant on youth.
Results, not performances
On the pitch, the picture is just as stark. Blackburn have taken only one point from their last four games and sit four points – and 10 league places – behind eighth-placed Millwall.
The performances, Mowbray argues, have not matched the results. The table, though, is unforgiving.
“We know we need to find a result, we can’t keep thinking the team is playing quite well but we’re getting beat again or drawing again,” he said.
“I think we are better than the results have suggested the last couple of games and deserved more from them, but the reality is you have to win matches and get points.”
Injured forwards returning, a key transfer slipping away, and a gap opening up to the top eight. Millwall at home suddenly feels bigger than a routine early-season fixture.
