Football League World
·13 September 2024
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·13 September 2024
A look at the starting XI John Eustace could name at Ewood Park on Saturday
Blackburn Rovers return to Championship action after the September international break on Saturday afternoon, as they host Bristol City at Ewood Park.
John Eustace's side will be looking to continue their strong start to the season, that has seen them go unbeaten in their first four league games.
The Ewood Park club start the weekend fifth in the Championship table, having taken eight points from those four league matches they have played so far.
Bristol City meanwhile, have taken five points from their four games so far this season, putting them 14th in the current standings.
So with that in mind, we've taken a look at the Blackburn Rovers starting XI Eustace could name on Saturday as he looks to extend his side's unbeaten start to the campaign, using the 4-2-3-1 formation they have gone with so far this season, right here.
There was finally an addition in the goalkeeping department on deadline day, with the signing of Balazs Toth. But with the 26-year-old having since been away on international duty with Hungary, he will have had little time to adapt to his new club, meaning Aynsley Pears may keep his place in the side here.
Having missed the draw at Burnley last time out with a back problem, Harry Pickering is close to be being in contention to return to action here. But with Liverpool loanee Owen Beck having produced a solid debut filling in at Turf Moor, Eustace may feel there is now need to rush Pickering back into the starting XI.
Dom Hyam has been an ever-present in the starting lineup for Blackburn in the Championship this season, and with the 28-year-old looking back to his best after some tough spells in the previous campaign, there seems to be little reason to change that here.
Rovers' centre-back partnership has been a steady one in the league so far, with Hayden Carter also starting every match, and after some solid performances, a first clean sheet should be the next target.
There does not appear to be any concern about the knock that forced Callum Brittain off late on at Turf Moor, and so as the club's sole senior and natural option on this side of defence, the 26-year-old should keep his place in the starting lineup against the Robins.
Now in his second season with Blackburn, Sondre Tronstad has remained a vital shield in front of the defence for Eustace's side this season, which should be enough to ensure he keeps his place in the side, despite competition from the likes of John Buckley and new signing Lewis Baker.
Lewis Travis has produced some of his best performances in a Rovers shirt for quite some time since returning in the summer, after his loan spell at Ipswich Town, and looks to be thriving under Eustace. As a result, he will surely once again captain the side against Bristol City.
It has been a rather bright start to the season for Tyrhys Dolan, and with Arnor Sigurdsson struggling to earn a place in the starting lineup at the start of the campaign, the 22-year-old - who has shown he can do a job in this role before - could be a sensible pick to start on the left on Saturday.
There is plenty of excitement about deadline day signing Todd Cantwell at Blackburn, although Eustace has revealed he is not yet ready to start matches. As a result, Andi Weimann - fresh from his stunning equaliser at Turf Moor before the international - could keep his place in the side against the club he spent six years with, making over 200 appearances and scoring more than 50 goals in all competitions.
One of Rovers' late summer signings who could be in contention to start this weekend is Amario Cozier-Duberry. The on-loan Brighton winger featured behind closed doors during the international break, so may be ready to feature here, with many of the Ewood Park faithful no doubt keen to see just what the highly-rated former Arsenal youngster can do.
Makhtar Gueye is supsended for Saturday's match, after being sent off for two bookable offences last time out. As a result, it could be Yuki Ohashi, who himself has enjoyed a strong start to life at Ewood Park, scoring three goals since joining from Sanfrecce Hiroshima in his native Japan, who comes into the side to lead the line for Blackburn this weekend.