"Real concern" raised for Blackburn Rovers as star heads off for AFCON - Valerien Ismael urged to sign cover ASAP | OneFootball

FLW's Rovers Fan Pundit has warned the club they need to find suitable cover for Ryan Alebiosu as soon as possible

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Blackburn Rovers are set to lose star defender Ryan Alebiosu to the African Cup of Nations for potentially over a month, and the club have been urged to take action as soon as possible in the January transfer window to supply head coach Valerien Ismael with cover.

Since his summer arrival from KV Kortrijk on a three-year-deal, ex-Arsenal right-back Alebiosu has rapidly established himself as one of the few bright spots in what has been, by any measure, a challenging season at Ewood Park.

So, while being named in the final Super Eagles squad for the tournament running from December 23 to potentially January 18 is a massive personal achievement, his absence is expected to cause "real concern" for Rovers.

Ryan Alebiosu heading to AFCON poses "real concern" for Blackburn Rovers

Alebiosu has featured in 21 Championship matches so far this season, starting all but one. According to Fotmob data, he has created 24 chances in the process and also completed 22 successful crosses.

His goal-scoring record of one goal and two assists may not jump off the page, but his creative output down the right-hand side has definitely been crucial for a Rovers side struggling with consistency.

And FLW’s Blackburn Rovers Fan Pundit, Simon Middlehurst, is very clear about the challenge that lies ahead in Lancashire without Alebiosu in Valerien Ismael's team, believing that he's been a fantastic replacement for now-Middlesbrough player Callum Brittain.

"I think it’s definitely a real concern amongst Blackburn fans, he’s definitely been one of the positives out of a negative season, shall we say," Middlehurst told FLW.

"Obviously, losing Callum Brittain was a big blow, we were a bit unsure as to how we’d cope without him, but he’s come in (Alebiosu) and really hit the ground running and been a revelation for Blackburn," the Fan Pundit said.

"His ability to sort of get down the wing and cross the ball in has been brilliant for us, so yeah, it is going to be a bit of a worry."

Brittain was instrumental in last season's seventh-place finish for Rovers, contributing to two goals and five assists before joining Middlesbrough for £3.5 million in August - one month after Alebiosu arrived in July.

The 27-year-old already has four assists this season on Teesside, but has 18 chances created and the same amount of successful crosses in comparison to Alebiosu - and they've both started 20 league games.

This is perhaps why Middlehurst has called for Valerien Ismael to bring someone else in when the transfer window opens next month.

Valerien Ismael expected to find Ryan Alebiosu "cover" in January for Blackburn Rovers

Luckily for Middlehurst, in a report by The Lancashire Telegraph, Ismael has already made it clear to the Venky's that reinforcements are needed in January - and that Alebiosu's absence "adds a little bit more pressure on everything."

Middlehurst intrigued by what this could mean, and told FLW: "It’d be interesting to see what happens in January in the transfer market if we bring someone in on loan to cover that position, or maybe Valerien Ismael’s got someone in mind.

"Kristi Montgomery, he’s played there previously as well. So, bit of a worry, but hopefully we can get some cover in for him."

In the earlier-mentioned Lancashire Telegraph report, Ismael also suggested he possesses a shortlist of identified targets and wants any business to be done fast - so Rovers fans could well have a new right-back in just over two weeks time.