Blackburn Rovers will be looking to pick up a big three points in their battle to remain clear of the Championship relegation zone on Saturday afternoon.
John Eustace’s side currently sit 16th in the table, six points clear of the bottom three.
This weekend’s game sees them host Norwich City at Ewood Park. This will be a welcome return to home soil for the team, after three consecutive away matches.
However, the Canaries will be looking to boost their Championship play-off hopes. They are currently 8th in the table, three points adrift of the top six.
With that in mind, it does look as though this could be something of a tough assignment for Blackburn Rovers.
Latest Blackburn Rovers team news
Eustace will be hoping to welcome back one important player for this clash with Norwich City.
The Blackburn Rovers boss has revealed that Harry Pickering is back in training and will be assessed ahead of a potential return to action. The left-back has missed the club’s last six games due to injury.
However, Ryan Hedges will also need to be assessed. The winger missed the midweek stalemate at Cardiff City, in the wake of a heavy workload after his own return from a long injury layoff.
Elsewhere, centre back Hayden Carter is apparently ahead of schedule in his return from a hamstring problem. However, this meeting between Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City will come too soon for him.
How will John Eustace line up against Norwich City?
It would be a surprise if there were not some changes to the Blackburn Rovers line up for Saturday’s game.
Those are unlikely to come in defence. Aynsley Pears is in arguably the best form he has been since moving to Ewood Park, so should keep his place between the posts.
With Carter still out, Captain Dom Hyam, Scott Wharton, and Kyle McFadzean – who has been excellent since joining in January – should again make up the back three.
Eustace may be reluctant too rush Pickering back too quickly. That may mean Aston Villa loanee Ben Chrisene keeps his place in the XI on the left of defence. On the right, Callum Brittain should again start, with Joe Rankin-Costello out injured.
In midfield, the introduction of John Buckley from the bench at Cardiff City proved a catalyst for a big improvement for Blackburn Rovers on the pitch in that match. As a result, he should now make his first start for the club since returning from his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday in January.
With Jake Garrett having struggled for form recently, he could be the one to drop out of the lineup, leaving Buckley to partner Sondre Tronstad.
Tyrhys Dolan also helped spark an improvement for Eustace’s side in the Welsh capital, so he too could return to the XI. Top scorer Sam Szmodics also seems certain to start, while Sam Gallagher should again lead the line, having filled that role so well in the past few weeks.
Here’s how we think Blackburn Rovers will line up vs Norwich City on Saturday afternoon…
Pears (GK)
Chrisene
Wharton
McFadzean
Hyam
Brittain
Tronstad
Buckley
Szmodics
Dolan
Gallagher