Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Premier League winner Kevin Gallacher says teams will expect Rovers' current crop to collapse in the closing stages of games.

Ipswich stole a point at Ewood Park in the 94th minute on Tuesday, just four days after Wrexham denied Valerien Ismael's side a win with a 95th-minute leveller.

Seven of the 23 goals Blackburn have conceded in their 18 Championship games have come in the 90th minute or later, costing them seven points - which would have seen 18th-placed Rovers within two points of fourth-placed Stoke instead.

Gallacher told BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor Andy Bayes: "It's disappointing, when they have worked so hard in two games, go into the lead and think you've got it.

"Whether it's substitutions or the way players are playing or that players don't understand how to see a game out, it's too often now.

"Teams will be looking now and thinking 'if we can stay in the game the last 10 minutes we'll just throw everything at Blackburn and we'll get a goal because they seem to collapse'."

Gallacher had sympathy for Ismael's passionate rant about decisions going against his side, saying Ipswich should have had "a definite red card" before half-time after Azor Matusiwa's foul on Ryoya Morishita when he looked to be clean through on goal.

"If it was the Premier League, VAR would show it was a clear sending-off," said Gallacher. "Hopefully the tide turns and [Ismael] doesn't have his knuckles rapped."

He added: "There are lots of positives. They played well. Performing like that for lengthy times, the fans were getting behind them. It was fantastic to see.

"It's game management, we need players running channels unselfishly just to get the team up the park to get the six or seven seconds you need to get back into shape.

"We just get deeper and deeper and the crowd go quiet, players get nervous, and that's when you make mistakes."

Blackburn head coach Valerien Ismael was critical of decisions he felt have gone against his side this season in the post-match interview after the 1-1 draw with Ipswich.

The decision not to send off Ipswich's Azor Matusiwa for bringing down Ryoya Morishita shortly before half-time was a big talking point in the match.

"We were very strong, we pressed well and forced mistakes. It was a great first half and the second half we were solid. We took the lead and conceded the goal again so it's very painful," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Normally we should talk about the three points tonight to enjoy but tonight I cannot not talk about the referee, enough is enough, we just put the list for all the decisions this season against us.

"The (lack of a) red card is a disgrace. It's terrible. I can't accept that. It's a penalty on Yuki [Ohashi, in a separate incident] and the last situation is a corner for us (before Ipswich's equaliser) so again the standard from the referee in the Championship is terrible.

"Every game, every three days it's always the same with the decision and standard is really poor. It's unacceptable, it can happen one or two decisions I didn't say anything but now that one with the red card it is obvious.

"This is a terrible decision that's why I have to talk about it - it's very disgraceful to show that kind of performance because no one can understand and follow the decision making from the referee.

"Every time is the same it's always sorry but we what we want is to raise the standard. It can't stay like this."

Image source, Getty Images

Blackburn Rovers players must give their supporters something to cheer when they face Ipswich Town at home in the Championship on Tuesday, says former striker Brett Ormerod.

Only Sheffield Wednesday (two) have taken fewer than Blackburn's four league points at home so far in the second tier this season, but they have the second best away record behind Coventry.

"They get some cracking results away from home but cannot buy a win at Ewood," Ormerod told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"You've got to give your fans something to get behind. Everyone loves someone who works hard - fans can put up with that if they have a bad day at the office. It's when you capitulate and there doesn't seem to be any effort."

Blackburn's only win at home this season came at the end of October, when they beat Southampton 2-1.

Tuesday's game with Ipswich is a rescheduled fixture after the initial match in September was abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch.

"With 80-odd minutes gone, against 10 men and 1-0 up, I still don't know how that decision has been made," said Ormerod, who started his career in Blackburn's youth set-up before going on to play for, among others, Blackpool, Southampton and Preston.

"Every club I've been at, when you're not winning home games, you get booed - it's a joint responsibility for the fans to get behind the players and the players to give something back and get the fans going."

Blackburn Rovers defender George Pratt has vowed to stay grounded and work hard to stay in Valerien Ismael's plans going forward.

The 22-year-old was recalled from a loan spell at National League North Chorley last month as Rovers lost Scott Wharton and Hayden Carter to injury.

After being named on the bench for the home defeat by Derby County, Pratt was handed his debut in the derby win at Preston North End and also started in the home defeat by QPR and Saturday's 1-1 draw at Wrexham.

"It's massively changed my life," Pratt told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Going from playing in front of nobody really at Chorley, getting the recall, getting chucked straight into the Derby and Preston games - good games, good fans, something I've not experienced before.

"Just wrapping my head around the whole thing has been a lot."

Pratt has battled injury problems of his own, missing nearly 18 months after a broken leg and recurring stress fracture of his foot.

"I knew I'd have go to out on loan and prove myself, prove I can play senior football week-in, week-out and stay fit, given my injury record.

"National League North is a fight. Pitches aren't great, the fans and players are really passionate. It's a dogfight all game. It's something you have to get used to dealing with, playing with big men who throw themselves about, it was definitely an experience."

Pratt said he was keen to repay the faith shown in him by Ismael.

"It means a lot he's got that faith in me, that he trusts me. Hopefully, I can keep repaying him with good performances.

"I just want to keep performing and keep my shirt. When people come back, make it hard for them to get back in the team, and give the gaffer something to think about.

"It's about keeping my head down and feet grounded."

Rovers have picked up just four points at home in eight matches this season but face a run of three games at Ewood Park in a week, starting with Tuesday's visit of Ipswich Town (19:45 GMT) before struggling Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United follow on Saturday and 9 December.

"The lads want to get the home form right. We should make it a fortress, so when you come to Ewood it's a really hard game to get three points," he said.

"It's not massive margins, it's little mistakes or slip-ups, or a first half that hasn't gone well.

"If you look at the table, there's not much in it at all. Six points and we're right up there [in the play-off chasing pack]. In these next three games to get as many points as we can is vital."

Image source, Opta

Blackburn and Ipswich will do battle at Ewood Park for the second time this season when their controversial replay takes place on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

The original game on 20 September was abandoned in the 79th minute after heavy rain left the pitch waterlogged.

Rovers were 1-0 up through Todd Cantwell's penalty and with a man advantage following Jacob Greaves' red card on 49 minutes when play was halted as the conditions worsened.

The following week the EFL admitted it was an 'incredibly difficult decision' but said the game would have to be replayed in full.

While Kieran McKenna welcomed the decision, Rovers boss Valerien Ismael branded the decision 'a disgrace.'

Ahead of this game in hand, Rovers sit 18th, three points clear of the relegation zone, and though they have taken 13 points from their past seven games, 10 of those came on the road.

Overall they have lost six of their eight games at Ewood Park this season, claiming just four points.

Though Town lie eighth, having missed the chance to jump into the automatic promotion places as they went down 2-1 at lowly Oxford United on Friday, a win here would take the Tractor Boys into fourth.

• Blackburn Rovers have won only one of their past seven league games against Ipswich Town (D2 L4), a 2-0 home win in January 2019 under Tony Mowbray.

• Ipswich completed a league double over Blackburn Rovers when the pair last met in the 2023/24 season – the last time either side went on a longer winning run in this matchup was between 1990 and 1992 (6 in a row by the Tractor Boys).

• Blackburn have already beaten Leicester and Southampton in the Championship this season. They last won three consecutive league games against sides relegated from the Premier League the previous campaign in May 2014 (v Reading, QPR and Wigan).

• Blackburn have lost six of their past eight home league games (W1 D1), and haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last 14 at Ewood Park in the Championship (23 goals conceded).

• Ipswich are unbeaten in their past 12 away league games played on a Tuesday (W9 D3) since a 0-2 defeat to Charlton in League One in December 2021.

Image source, Opta

Wrexham could climb into the play-off places when they welcome Blackburn to the Stok Cae Ras on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Phil Parkinson's men have won four straight home games, keeping three clean sheets, and Wednesday's 2-0 win over Bristol City made it seven unbeaten and took the Red Dragons into 10th, just two points outside the top-six.

Rovers were stung by a late 1-0 defeat at home to QPR on the same night and lie 18th, just four points clear of the relegation zone, but head to Wales seeking a fourth straight away win and sixth of the campaign.

• This is the first league meeting between Wrexham and Blackburn Rovers since March 1982, with the Welsh side winning 1-0 at home in the second tier.

• Blackburn Rovers have won just one of their past 13 Football League games against Wrexham, though nine of those games have been drawn (L3).

• Blackburn have lost seven of their past 10 league games against newly-promoted sides (W3) and 14 of their last 15 on the road (D1).

• Wrexham are unbeaten in their past three weekend league matches (W1 D2), keeping a clean sheet in the last two (1-0 v Charlton and 0-0 v Ipswich). They had only kept one clean sheet in their first nine weekend games in the Championship this season beforehand.

• Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has lost both his previous league meetings with Blackburn, coming during his time in charge of Bolton Wanderers in 2018-19.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Shutterstock

Six defeats in eight home matches in the Championship is a massive cause for concern for all involved at Blackburn Rovers.

Head coach Valerien Ismael described the 1-0 loss at home to QPR on Wednesday as "the worst feeling".

Only Southampton have left Ewood Park with nothing this season and Stoke City with a point.

This was a flat performance, to put it mildly. Five days earlier, a derby win at Preston had really given cause for optimism and potentially a corner turned. But this felt like it was back to square one for a team that was below par all night.

Playing at Ewood Park looks like a heavy weight on the shoulders of the players at the moment. Blackburn left the field to a chorus of boos at half-time with the score goalless and it was the same send-off for them at the full-time whistle.

The calendar year at home for Rovers makes very unpleasant reading - 19 league games played, 10 lost (with cup defeats by Wolves and Bradford thrown in). Six have been won and three drawn. It's a growing concern.

Ismael has had to contend with a fair share of injuries this season, but he's not alone. The problem against QPR, in my opinion, was that it looked like one too many key players were missing.

They're juggling the loss of an international goalkeeper, two senior centre-backs, the best holding midfielder at the club, a pacey wide player and the talisman and skipper.

Without disrespect meant to those who did play, I feel they'd have fared a lot better had they been able to call on more of the big hitters.

Passes were under-hit and over-hit. The ball was turned over far too often. Possession was surrendered in their own half frequently and the goal came from exactly that. Sloppy play resulted in an in-swinging cross and Paul Smyth was left all alone to head home.

Substitutes were brought on in a bid to firstly win the match and then to get back into it. They didn't work, whereas QPR's change clearly did. I don't blame Ismael for making the changes - if he hadn't, I'd have probably been asking why in the post-match debrief.

It's impossible to ignore the low attendance. There are a variety of reasons for it in my opinion.

There are those who decide to stay away as they don't agree with the way the club is run from the top down. This is nothing new. There is nothing to suggest that the current ownership are considering a sale.

The 'red button' has undoubtedly had a detrimental impact on the atmosphere of midweek Championship football. People have the option to stay at home these days and take in the action from the comfort of their armchair.

It's also crucial to remember that between now and 20 December, Rovers are at home on four more occasions. Working families can't find it easy at this time of year to afford match tickets as well as everything else over the festive period.

It also feels like a smaller attendance due to the sheer size of the stadium. It holds just over 30,000 seats.

When the 'new Ewood Park' was officially opened by Jack Walker in 1995, it seemed like the capacity was about right. These days, that simply isn't the case or anywhere near it.

Nobody is to blame for that. It's just a reality. If Rovers were to ever return to the top tier, would they sell out Ewood for every game? I have my doubts, but we'll have to wait and see.

There are 12 more home points to play for between now and the end of 2025. How many points they can take from Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford and Millwall will go a long way to shaping the second half of the season, what is achievable and what isn't.

Blackburn head coach Valerien Ismael bemoaned the manner in which his side were beaten 1-0 by QPR as they lost at home for this sixth time in the Championship this season.

"It was a typical 0-0 game, I would say," he told BBC Radio Lancashire. "We've got the better chances before 1-0, first half and especially second half - their goalkeeper made a big save.

"Then we give the goal away. That's the big frustration for me. The boys need to learn, at least keep the point - so many games, every point counts. We gave the goal away, it was too cheap.

"This one is painful. The feeling is that we are not going forward. A big disappointment about the performance and how we gave the ball away.

"We will go again, but the main problem is we are not winning at home. Today is completely unnecessary. Every time it is a tight game we are not able to take the points and to stay calm. At some point we need to have a turnaround at home or it will be difficult.

"Nobody wanted to take responsibility. At some point when we played forwards it was much better. I don't know why the players don't always try to do that because that is our game."

Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael says he is relieved to have the club's academy players ready to step into the first team.

Defender George Pratt made his debut in last Friday's 2-1 derby win at Preston having been recalled from a loan spell with Chorley of the National League North.

That followed a debut for teenage goalkeeper Nicholas Michalski earlier this season, while midfielder Kristi Montgomery was handed a first start under Ismael towards the end of last season.

"Before I signed here it was about creating a pathway for the young players - we have made it already with Michalski, Montgomery and now with George Pratt which is good," the Rovers head coach told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"It's a message to everyone at the club that if you're ready to perform, able to give what we want to see on the pitch you will get the chance - if you have a lot of players injured you are going to need your academy and at the minute it's good to have that possibility."

Blackburn have been dealt an injury blow ahead of Wednesday's home game with QPR (19:45 GMT) with midfielder Sondre Tronstad out for two weeks.

"He has a problem with his ankle. It was really swollen after the game (against Preston)," said Ismael.

"Taylor Gardner-Hickman will come back from suspension to replace him in the squad. It's frustrating because we can't get the consistency for the players to play in the same line-up."

Rob Heckingbottom
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Living in the Lakes means every trip back to Blackburn feels ever more of a journey.

Listening to all the talk on the way down the night before the derby at Preston, it was all about injuries and a makeshift team.

Valerien Ismael's approach feels almost utilitarian - system first, individuals second.

I understood not putting George Pratt in for the previous match against Derby, but seeing him start this one raised eyebrows.

Cut to being there on Friday night at Deepdale under the lights - I'd not seen us win there before. I missed the 4–1 win but I've seen a few draws and seen us end up losing 3-2 from being 2-0 up.

But credit where it's due, the performance was up there, and I came away struggling to pick one player to single out.

As much as Ryoya Morishita grabbed the man-of-the-match award, for me Ryan Hedges, Lewis Miller, and Sondre Tronstrad deserve honourable mentions.

Sondre was back to his best, organizing the back line. Miller gave us a point-blank goal despite still probably not unpacking his Aussie bags from international duties. And Hedges? He embodies the manager's plan and does the hard work well.

Andri Gudjohnsen looks like a proper number nine. He's always in the right place, and if he keeps this up, his numbers could be impressive.

Positive signs too from Moussa Baradji, who made a brief appearance and showed glimpses of real potential, though he needs time.

And maybe Todd Cantwell soon? If we can maintain this level, we could navigate the unexpected changes well.

Lots of games ahead, lots of positives - and finally, a win at Deepdale to savour.

Blackburn have won four of their past five Championship matches heading into their meeting with QPR on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

But Rovers have lost out of three at home and come up against a QPR side beaten just once in their previous six road trips.

• None of the past 15 league meetings between Blackburn and QPR have been drawn, with Rovers winning 10 of those (L5).

• QPR have lost seven of their past eight away league games against Blackburn, with the exception being a 2-1 win in February 2024.

• Only Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich have lost more home league games than Blackburn (5) in the Championship this season, with Rovers' only home win coming against Southampton last month.

• Having conceded nine goals in their first two away league games this season, QPR have conceded just four in their subsequent six on the road.

• Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael has won five of his six league games against QPR (L1), including all three at home by an aggregate score of 9-1.

Adam Cottier
BBC Final Score reporter

"We play with energy and this is our DNA."

A line that stood out from Valerien Ismael's post-match debrief with BBC Radio Lancashire.

This, following a gutsy, high-octane performance that yielded a fifth away win this season for his Blackburn Rovers side.

Why Rovers have been far better away from home under Ismael can - and will - be hotly debated by their supporters ahead of a home game with QPR on Wednesday.

It's a game that will almost certainly be played in a less fervent atmosphere than the one that greeted Rovers at Deepdale, home to a team enjoying their best start to a season for six years. Blackburn seemed to thrive off the energy from the crowd here, swelled by some 5,000 of their own.

Ismael showed guts himself. With Rovers' defence decimated by injury, he chose to hand a debut to defender George Pratt, a 22-year-old who, 13 days prior, had been completing a loan spell at sixth-tier Chorley. The academy graduate didn't let his manager down, making an outstanding senior debut.

Image source, Getty Images

At the other end of the pitch, Yuki Ohashi exuded the rich tenacity that has become a hallmark of his game, a driving force and constant pest to the opposition. In Andri Gudjohnsen - the match-winner here - Rovers have a player growing well into English football, his goals tally now escalating encouragingly.

There were many standout performers in this local derby - willing runners, desire in abundance and two outstanding goals, both from set-piece situations.

Ismael will now want more consistency and that means rectifying the home form that contributed to Rovers being in the bottom three in the non-too-distant past.

The fact the win at Preston moved Rovers closer to the top six than those relegation places is a testament to Ismael's perseverance and adaptability with this group of players, many of whom are in their formative months on English soil.

They have certainly excelled, and thrived with the energy levels Ismael speaks of, in wins at Hull, Watford, Leicester, Bristol City and now Preston. It's a mightily impressive away record, second only to Coventry as of Friday night.

It's at home where they must replicate and restore serious hope of a successful season and that must start in midweek after a memorable night seven miles down the road.

Valerien Ismael wants to see winning "become an addiction" after Blackburn Rovers beat Lancashire rivals Preston North End in the Championship.

He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "In the Derby County game [2-1 defeat], in the second half we were on the front foot, we dominated, we were dominant again. It's just that consistency in the performance we were not able to do."

"I think if it's only 1-0 against Derby we would be able to come back into the game so we made it difficult in the first half. Southampton [2-1 win] we made it the same. So we spoke in the last two weeks about that consistency in our performance. This is what we needed."

He added: "We are a team, we are on the front foot, we play with energy and this is our DNA and we have to stay that way. If you win or lose a game, this is football, sometimes you cannot influence.

"What we can influence is what we perform on the pitch and that was what was our focus for the last two weeks and it for sure gave confidence to the players because winning games is one thing.

"Every team is able to win games, it's all about the next one, to win three, four, five, six, seven, eight games in a row, it has to become an addiction and now hopefully we can do the next step next week against QPR."

You can listen to more from Valerien Ismael on BBC Sounds.

If you're wondering where your team is going to finish in the Championship this season, you no longer need to worry.

Well, kind of.

Opta's supercomputer has worked its magic to figure out the most likely final league position of every team - and the chances each has of being promoted, making the play-offs or getting relegated.

Who is most likely to win automatic promotion?

It will come as no surprise that leaders Coventry are heavy favourites for the title (69.3%) and also have the highest chance of automatic promotion (84.2%) to the Premier League.

The next most likely to go straight up, with a 30.8% chance, are Middlesbrough. Despite currently sitting seventh and six points behind Boro in second, Ipswich are expected to be the third favourites for a top two finish (18.9%) followed by Stoke (14.1%).

Even though they've each enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Preston (10.3%), Hull (6.1%) and Millwall (8.3%) have slimmer chances of finishing in an automatic promotion spot.

Who will make the play-offs?

Image source, Rex Features

Even if Coventry don't win automatic promotion, Opta's supercomputer has given the Sky Blues a 97.9% chance of a top-six finish, suggesting it's almost guaranteed.

Each of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Preston and Stoke are expected to finish in a minimum of a play-off position at least one in two times.

Hull might feel the hardest done by as they sit fifth currently, but are said to have less chance (32.3%) than Millwall (38.8%) and Charton (32.4%), who are below them in the table.

The most likely of the chasing pack to make a surge up the table are 12th-placed Leicester City, who have been given a 31.8% chance of finishing in the top six and are more likely than Bristol City (28.9%), Derby (22.9%) and Birmingham (19.9%).

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United have just a 1.8% chance of recovering their season to make the play-offs again, while relegated Premier League side Southampton (12.5%) aren't likely to either... if you trust the supercomputer!

Who is going down?

Image source, Rex Features

It's probably not hard to work out who is most likely to finish bottom and be relegated to League One.

Sheffield Wednesday's 12-point deduction, which has left them 17 points adrift of safety on -4 points, means they're pretty much nailed on to finish bottom (84.8%) - and failing that, are almost certain to go down (98.2%).

Second from bottom Norwich are the next most likely candidates to fall through the trap door (58.5%) but Sheffield United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, have just a 22.4% chance of going down and are considered more likely to stay up than Oxford (37.8%) and Portsmouth (31.3%).

We made it through another international break!

The Championship action resumes in style on Friday night (20:00 GMT) as high-flying Preston North End welcome lowly Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers to Deepdale.

The Lilywhites are unbeaten in four games and lie fourth but would climb into the automatic promotion places ahead of the Saturday programme with a derby win.

Rovers saw a three-match winning run ended by a home defeat to Derby in their final game before the international break and sit 19th, six points clear of the relegation zone.

• The last three league meetings between Preston and Blackburn at Deepdale have all been drawn with a different scoreline – 1-1 in 2022/23, 2-2 in 2023/24 and 0-0 last season.

• Following a 2-1 win in January, Blackburn Rovers are looking for consecutive league wins over Preston for the first time since doing the double over them in 2021/22.

• Preston North End have 26 points after 15 Championship games this season (W7 D5 L3), their most at this stage of a campaign since 2019/20 (28), going on to finish 9th that season.

• Blackburn Rovers have won their past two away league matches, their third different run of consecutive away wins under manager Valerien Ismael. They haven't won three in a row since a run of four in November and December 2024 under John Eustace.

• Each of Blackburn Rovers' past five Championship goals have been scored by either Andri Gudjohnsen (3) or Yuki Ohashi (2), with Ohashi looking to score in three appearances in a row for the first time

Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu says he and his team-mates are "fired up" for Friday's Championship meeting with local rivals Preston North End.

"The boys are raring to go," the right-back told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Obviously it's a big game. Everyone is fired up so we can't wait to go in front of the fans, show them what we can do, perform and just give a fight.

"The best games are the hardest ones.

"You want to play in these games and not hide away but go into it and show yourself so it's a great opportunity for us to get the three points."

You can listen to more from Ryan Alebiosu on BBC Sounds.

Andy Bayes
BBC Radio Lancashire

Blackburn have been dealt another injury blow with defender Hayden Carter out for a period of time because of a calf injury.

Carter has played just once for Rovers this season, in the victory at Watford on 13 September, and had only recently returned to fitness after a hamstring problem.

"He's got another injury on his calf, so it will take him out for another period of time," manager Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire. "This one is a big frustration for me and for the player first.

"You count on Hayden; you see all the potential he has, but it seems that he is not able to come around the corner to stay fit, which is a big problem for us now. Hopefully he can now resolve his health issue.

"We wanted to count on him, to plan with him, but now time's flying. We're at the end of November, so we are not seeing him coming back before Christmas."

Ismael is looking at the January transfer market as a time to address Rovers' issues at the heart of their defence with Scott Wharton out until the early weeks of 2026 because of an Achilles issue.

"I think it's clear that with the injuries to Hayden and Scott, it's something we have to look at," he added.

In recent weeks, Rovers have recalled 22-year-old centre back George Pratt from a loan spell at Chorley and registered him in their squad, taking their total to 24.

Rovers will also play Preston North End without captain Todd Cantwell, who misses his seventh successive match with a knee injury.

"He's had a setback with his knee," Ismael added. "It's frustrating for him, and it's frustrating for us because it's actually not a big deal.

"The injury he's got is nothing major but takes him to solve a session, pain-free. That's why it will take him out another week.

"The good news is the last two days he's had some good sessions without pain. It gives a little bit more hope that he will be available next week."

Rovers now have midfielder Moussa Baradji back in training, and his debut could be close.

Baradji has been out since signing on a season-long loan deal from Swiss club Yverdon-Sport in August.

"He looks good; he trains fully with the team now," Ismael said. "Now he's available because he's in full training with the team. It's good news and what I expected.

"Now he's more ready for sure. It's about the game rhythm now, and when is the right time to get him back? With so many games in front of us, it's not really the right time, so we have to be creative with him, how can we integrate him?"