Boss Tony Mowbray has stated that Blackburn Rovers have suffered a double blow with both Adam Forshaw and Yuki Ohashi set for lengthy stints on the sidelines.

Central midfielder, age 35 Forshaw has not participated for the Lancashire side since going off injured in the defeat to Preston North End on September 5.

Japan international Ohashi has not appeared for the club since the 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United in the second round of the EFL Cup in August.

Both have been missing for Rovers, both struggling for consistency in the initial phase of the new campaign before the international break.

Mowbray’s team have only won one of their past six league games and will be hoping to turn their form around when the Championship resumes this weekend.

Blackburn will be aiming to go back to winning ways but the squad have suffered a double injury blow ahead of their first game since the break.

Tony Mowbray acknowledges double blow for Blackburn Rovers

Mowbray has confirmed that Forshaw will need an operation on his injured hip, ruling him out for a long period of time with no possible timetable being given for his comeback.

He has also said Ohashi is still two or three weeks away from being able to come back into the fold, but at least he’s back on grass at the very least.

“We still have a concern about Fors,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“He’s had a few scans, it’s a hip problem.

“I don’t really want to speculate, I’m not a medical person, but he’s going to probably have a procedure on that to help him.”

“He will be out for a while.”I suppose with Ohashi we’re still two or three weeks away.

He’s on the grass, just doing his own.We’ll take it easy on him.

Ohashi was an influential player in the club’s ranks last term under both Valerien Ismael and Michael O’Neill, with the forward scoring 10 goals and providing one assist from 46 games in the Championship.

Forshaw, meanwhile, made 22 appearances as Rovers narrowly avoided relegation to League One, ending the campaign 20th.

But Mowbray was boosted elsewhere in his team as Scott Wharton, Mathias Jorgensen and Augustus Kargbo all made strides in their drive to get completely fit again.

Blackburn’s form prior to the international break
Blackburn lost just one of their last six league matches before the lengthy September international break, a 3-1 home triumph against Millwall.

They headed into the three week break on the back of a 2-2 draw away to Portsmouth, when a 74th minute strike from Colby Bishop recovered a point for the hosts.

Blackburn Rovers last five league results

Opponent (A or H)

Outcome

At Portsmouth (A)

2-2

Millwall (Away)

3-1 victory

Sheffield United (away)

lost 2 – 1

Preston North End (away)

Defeat 2-1

Lincoln City (Away)

0-0

Mowbray’s side are 16th in the table having picked up nine points from their opening eight encounters and are already eight points behind leaders Swansea City.

Blackburn’s next game is a home game against Cardiff City on Saturday with a 3pm kick-off.

Blackburn Rovers double injury blow for Tony Mowbray