Blackburn Rovers confirm big double boost ahead of Stoke City | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers have five games to ensure their safety in the Championship

Blackburn Rovers have opened up a gap to the relegation zone under Michael O’Neill but they haven’t confirmed their place in the Championship just yet.

The Lancashire outfit are at risk of sliding into League One, but a positive run of results in recent fixtures has given them a six point edge on 22nd place Leicester City.

O’Neill took charge in February following the dismissal of Valerien Ismael, while keeping his position as the Northern Ireland manager.

The 56-year-old has overseen four wins from 10 games, with Blackburn now unbeaten in their last four fixtures.

Rovers will be hoping to get over the line in the next few games to avoid falling into League One for the first time since 2018.

The club have five games left to ensure their survival, and they have received a major boost ahead of this weekend’s return to action.

Blackburn Rovers confirm double injury boost

O’Neill has confirmed that both Eiran Cashin and Connor O’Riordan could return to the Blackburn team for this weekend’s clash against Stoke City.

The pair have both been absent through injury, with Cashin missing the Easter weekend double, while O’Riordan hasn’t featured since 7 February’s 2-0 defeat to Norwich City.

But the Rovers boss has revealed that they’ve been on the grass this week, and that they are in contention to at least make the bench against the Potters.

"Well, we’re hopeful at this point," said O’Neill, via the Lancashire Telegraph.

“Connor O’Riordan and Eiran Cashin were both on the grass [Thursday], which was a positive.

“Their training had to be monitored and controlled as well.

“They are potential options for the weekend, if not as starters, off the bench.

“So, we just see how things go for them in the next 24 hours, if there’s no reaction and they can train tomorrow, they’ll come into contention.”

Ryan Hedges has also made his return to training, although an appearance against Stoke is unlikely at this stage.

The 30-year-old’s game time has been limited this season due to injury, and he hasn’t been in the side since 1 January’s 2-0 defeat to Wrexham.

A broken leg has kept him out of the team for the last three months, but he is now nearing a return in what will come as another boost for O’Neill.

Meanwhile, Augustus Kargbo remains absent, with the forward suffering a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury.

Blackburn have a six point gap to the relegation zone, with the team sitting 19th in the table with just five games remaining.

If Rovers earn 10 points from their final fixtures then they will be mathematically safe regardless of results elsewhere.

O’Neill’s side will begin that task with a trip to face Stoke on 11 April in a 3pm kick-off, before games against Southampton, Coventry City, Sheffield United and 22nd place Leicester.

Blackburn injury boost comes at the right time

Blackburn are just a few games away from avoiding relegation out of the Championship, and they will be hoping to have all hands on deck for the final games.

Cashin has proven a solid addition to the side since arriving on loan in January, while O’Riordan hasn’t had the chance to make much of an impact since his return from Doncaster Rovers.

The pair coming back adds some defensive cover, and will give O’Neill options off the bench against Stoke, which could prove very important.

However, Hedges will need to be managed as coming back from a broken leg isn’t easy, so he may only receive limited minutes in these final fixtures, if at all.