Blackburn Rovers face a crucial few weeks as they look to avoid relegation from the Championship.
The Ewood Park club have won just two of their last 20 league games. Indeed, none of those have come since John Eustace was appointed as the club’s new head coach at the start of February.
As a result, they have now slipped to 18th in the second-tier table, three points clear of the relegation zone.
That has left Blackburn Rovers facing the possibility of suffering relegation to League One. Were that to happen, there is a good chance they would lose a number of key players.
In turn, that may lead to opportunities for some of those we have not seen much of in recent times.
So with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at three fringes players who may need to step up for Blackburn Rovers if they find themselves in League One next season, right here.
Connor O’Riordan is waiting for his chance
After something of a drawn out saga, centre back Connor O’Riordan finally made the move to Ewood Park from League Two side Crewe Alexandra in the latter stages of the January transfer window.
Since then though, he has managed just two substitute appearances in the Championship. However, Hayden Carter, Dominic Hyam and Scott Wharton could all attract attention in the event of relegation. Kyle McFadzean and Billy Koumetio meanwhile, are only contracted to the club until the end of this season.
As a result, there could soon be some considerable voids in the centre of defence that Blackburn Rovers need to fill. O’Riordan could do that, and after going straight from the fourth-tier to the second-tier at the start of the year, a spell in the third-tier may help him to adapt as he climbs the pyramid.
Blackburn Rovers fans want to see more of Zak Gilsenan
Perhaps one of the club’s most exciting academy prospects right now, winger Zak Gilsenan has still only made a handful of brief appearances for the senior side.
That is despite scoring four goals in his last three league appearances for Blackburn Rovers’ Under 21s. Thanks to that form, many are already clamouring to see him get his chance in the Championship.
It is likely those calls will get louder if there is a drop into League One, where the dip in quality may make it easier for him to make an impact too. Indeed, they may need him to do that, given the attention Sam Szmodics is attracting, and contract uncertainty there will be around the likes of Tyrhys Dolan and Aror Sigurdsson.
Semir Telalovic needs goals
Blackburn Rovers are short on numbers at centre forward right now. That issue may become even greater if they go down, given Sam Gallagher is among the club’s highest earners and sees his contract expire this summer.
Indeed, he was also linked with Ipswich Town back in January. This could therefore provide something of an opportunity for Telalovic to show what he can do. The summer signing has so far failed to make an impression in the Championship.
However, he has got goals at youth level for Blackburn Rovers, and previously in the lower leagues in Germany. That could mean he is another who may benefit from the drop down a level from an individual perspective, in terms of kickstarting his career at Ewood Park.