Blackburn Rovers' Selection Dilemmas Ahead of Portsmouth Clash

Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray heads to Portsmouth with something he hasn’t enjoyed for weeks: genuine selection decisions.

After an injury-hit spell that left the bench packed with academy prospects, Rovers finally have senior options returning, with Moussa Baradji set to feature in Saturday’s Championship trip to Fratton Park and Hayden Carter back in the fold after minutes in each of the last 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.

Baradji’s return is clearly one Mowbray has been waiting for. The head coach talked up the midfielder’s blend of strength and technique, hinting that the 24-year-old could have a real say as Blackburn look to build on last weekend’s win over Millwall.

“I'm excited by Moussa over how powerful and technical he is,” Mowbray said. “(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 mood is lighter, but not everything has cleared. On the left side of defence, Yuri Ribeiro has been ruled out of the Portsmouth clash with a hamstring problem, a blow for a back line that had only just started to settle.

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

In midfield, Adam Forshaw’s absence drags on. The experienced playmaker remains sidelined with a hip issue and is awaiting a further consultation.

“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 said, stopping short of putting any date on a possible return.

There is better news at right-back. Ryan Alebiosu, who was forced off at half-time in the Millwall victory because of illness, has recovered and will be fit to face Portsmouth.

For weeks, Mowbray has been patching together line-ups and leaning on youth. Now, with Baradji and Carter back, Gudjohnsen pushing from the bench and Alebiosu available again, the dynamic shifts. The question at Fratton Park is no longer simply who is fit – it’s who has done enough to keep their place.