Blackburn hit by injury crisis ahead of Liverpool cup replay

Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer believes his injury-decimated squad are “massive underdogs” for their FA Cup replay with Liverpool tomorrow - joking that the Rovers kit man might get a game.

Rodgers: No crisis here [AMBIENT]

Rovers could be without up to 14 players for tomorrow night’s quarter-final tie at Ewood Park through a combination of injuries and unavailability.

Bowyer is definitely without Jay Spearing and David Raya, who are both cup-tied, while John O’Sullivan and Paul Taylor are both ineligible because they were not registered before the initial tie.

Jason Lowe and Shane Duffy are both long-term injuries while there are doubts over the likes of Rudy Gestede (hamstring), David Dunn (calf) and captain Grant Hanley (calf).

“Brendan Rodgers will be wondering what internationals to replace their suspended internationals with," Bowyer said.

“With whereas ourselves which kitman can play, whether it be Harry Kenyon, with a dodgy knee, or Carl Brighty, who’s back went yesterday!

“We can't even play one of our own players that we sent out on loan before the game who has now come back with us in John O’Sullivan.

Rudy GestedeGETTY

Rudy Gestede caused Liverpool plenty of problems

“He played for us on Saturday in the league yet can't play for us tomorrow night. He's only been with us six years!

“For me, that doesn't make sense. It's another challenge, another player less. It would be a massive achievement for us to pull it off. But we're aware of what lies ahead and the quality that's in front of us.

“The quality of the squad that they’ve got, we are the massive underdogs, and that isn’t changing in our understanding. But we’re going to have a right good go.”

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