Mowbray's Selection Dilemma as Blackburn Faces Portsmouth

For the first time in weeks, Tony Mowbray can look at his Blackburn Rovers squad and see options rather than absentees.

An injury crisis has stripped his bench bare in recent matches, forcing academy youngsters into the spotlight. Now, as Rovers prepare for Saturday’s Championship trip to Portsmouth (15:00 BST), the picture looks a little healthier.

Midfielder Moussa Baradji is set to be involved at Fratton Park, with Mowbray openly enthusiastic about what the 21-year-old can bring.

"I'm excited by Moussa over how powerful and technical he is," the head coach told BBC Radio Lancashire, underlining the blend of strength and skill that has caught his eye in training.

Defender Hayden Carter has already eased his way back, featuring in the past two games, and his presence adds experience to a back line that has been shuffled too often for Mowbray’s liking.

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

The returning faces arrive at a good moment. Andri Gudjohnsen came off the bench to score in last weekend’s win over Millwall, sharpening the competition for attacking places and rewarding Mowbray’s faith in his fringe players.

Not all the news is positive. Blackburn travel without left-back Yuri Ribeiro, ruled out by a hamstring injury.

"Yuri is a no-go for a few weeks, I don't know the exact timings," Mowbray admitted, a blunt setback just as his defensive options were beginning to stabilise.

Midfielder Adam Forshaw remains out as well, his long-running hip problem still unresolved.

"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, wary of putting any timeline on a key senior player.

There is at least one more boost. Right-back Ryan Alebiosu, forced off by illness at half-time in the win over Millwall, has recovered and will be fit to face Portsmouth.

For a squad that has been stretched thin, it all adds up to something Mowbray has barely enjoyed in recent weeks: genuine decisions to make. How he uses that new depth on the south coast will say plenty about where Blackburn’s season is heading next.