Blackburn Rovers Prepare for Portsmouth Clash with Key Player Returns

Blackburn Rovers head to Portsmouth with something they have barely known in recent weeks: options.

After an injury-hit spell that left Tony Mowbray leaning heavily on academy players, the Blackburn head coach finally has senior reinforcements back in the frame for Saturday’s Championship trip to Fratton Park.

Midfielder Moussa Baradji is set to be involved and could feature at 15:00 BST, while defender Hayden Carter has already eased his way back with minutes in each of the past two games.

“Hayden and Moussa are back in the picture so it's good to have a few more choices off the bench rather than the academy kids,” Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire.

He did not hide his enthusiasm for Baradji’s return.

“I'm excited by Moussa over how powerful and technical he is,” he said, highlighting the different dimension the midfielder can bring. The mood is helped by the form of Andri Gudjohnsen, who stepped off the bench to score last week and has been backing that up on the training ground. “(Andri) Gudjohnsen came off the bench and scored a goal last week so he's looking good and training well.

“It's good we have choices which, it's fair to say, we haven't had over the past couple of weeks.”

The good news is tempered by fresh problems elsewhere. Blackburn will be without left-back Yuri Ribeiro at Portsmouth after he picked up a hamstring injury that rules him out for several weeks.

“Yuri is a no-go for a few weeks, I don't know the exact timings,” Mowbray admitted.

Midfielder Adam Forshaw also remains out and faces more time on the sidelines as he battles a hip issue.

“Forshaw is still an issue with his hip and has a consultation coming up so he won't be available in the short term but I don't want to speculate,” Mowbray added.

There is at least a boost on the opposite flank. Right-back Ryan Alebiosu will be fit to face Portsmouth after illness forced him off at half-time in last weekend's win over Millwall.

Blackburn arrive on the south coast with gaps still to plug, but for the first time in weeks Mowbray can look at his bench and see genuine choice rather than bare necessity.