Blackburn Rovers boss Mowbray provides positive updates with injury crisis set to ease

Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray hopes Augustus Kargbo can make his long-awaited return after the international break following almost a year of injury problems.

The winger has not played a competitive game since October last year after initially suffering a thigh injury before setbacks with the Under-21s and another hamstring problem in pre-season.

Mowbray expects Kargbo to return to full training over the coming weeks but says Blackburn will have to manage him carefully.

“I’d still say at least a few weeks, maybe three or four weeks,” Mowbray said.

“So maybe after this international break, because it’s a three-week international break, he will definitely be back on the grass; he will definitely be training with the group.

“What I can’t guarantee is that the first time he sprints down that left wing and tries to go past his man, he doesn’t pull up again.

“I’m looking forward to the day he’s back on the bench with a Blackburn Rovers shirt on because he might have that little bit of magic.

“I know his main attribute is speed and I do think this team is a little bit short of genuine speed to break away teams and hurt them in transition.”

Mowbray also provided a positive update on Blackburn’s defensive options, with Tom Atcheson available again following suspension and Hayden Carter continuing his recovery.

Carter was restricted to around 30 minutes at Deepdale because of concerns over the possibility of another setback.

Scott Wharton is also closing in on a return.

“Atcheson only had a one-match suspension so he’ll be ready for Tuesday,” Mowbray said.

“Wharton’s been training for the last week, we saw Hayden Carter was on the bench but under the orders really, he could only play 20-30 minutes maximum.

“There’s a danger of him breaking down so we’ve been stretched at that position.”