Darragh Lenihan should be back in contention for Blackburn by Christmas.
Lenihan, who courted plenty of interest from Championship clubs during the summer, was retained despite Rovers’ relegation into League One but hasn’t featured since an injury in the opening day defeat against Southend in August.
A fractured metatarsal has robbed Blackburn of his services and Tony Mowbray has admitted what a ‘huge loss’ Lenihan has been. However, the boss isn’t going to rush him back and is happy to wait until Christmas.
He told Official Website: ‘We miss him. He’s a huge loss for this football club at the moment, just because of the way I like to play. His mobility, power and ability to deal with the first ball – it’s a huge loss for the team. Darragh is still in his boot, still on crutches for another 10 days or so. I think the key is not to rush him; when he’s fit, he’s fit. Hopefully by Christmas, he’s back on the grass and ready to push for a place in the team.’
The boss went on to say how we’ve had to ‘find ways to win games without him’ and this involved playing a less ‘expansive game’ as if Blackburn had done this ‘we’d have been vulnerable defensively.’
Meanwhile, former Rovers winger, a Premier League winner in 1995, Jason Wilcox has taken up a full time position at Manchester City.
Wilcox, 46, has been interim academy director at Man City since June but has now been appointed on a permanent basis, which will see the ex-England international, who has already enjoyed success with City’s U18 side, charged with bringing through future talent at the Etihad Stadium.
