Blackburn Rovers could take to the field against Bristol City on Saturday without a recognised left-back with manager Tony Mowbray pessimistic over the chances of either Amari'i Bell or Derrick Williams recovering in time.
Neither Bell or Williams played in Blackburn's warm-up match against Liverpool last week - in which Rovers lost 6-0 - with Mowbray fielding right-footed midfielder Joe Rankin-Costello on the left of his defence.
He does have veteran winger Stewart Downing who can play in that role, but that would potentially affect Blackburn's creativity further up the pitch. Loanee Greg Cunningham made eight starts earlier in the season but has since returned to Cardiff.
Between them Bell (19) and Williams (17), who was part of City's 2014/15 promotion-winning squad before departing in 2016, have started 36 matches.
"They’re touch and go – if I was a betting man I’d say probably not, but I’m not a betting man, so I wouldn’t put too much stock in to that," Mowbray said in his pre-match press conference, as reported by Lancs Live.
"Let’s wait and see. I don’t really want to sit here and give my team away. We're fully aware of Bristol City's strengths out wide, their crossing stats are very high.
"We'll have a left back on the pitch who will be doing a very good job I'm sure."
City only rank 14th in the Championship for crosses per game with 19, but in Niclas Eliasson possess one of the best and most productive wingers in the division.
The Swede is sixth in the Championship for accurate crosses per 90 minutes, and seven of his 12 assists have arrived via his delivery from wide areas in open play.
Eliasson has been fielded on both sides - and will often switch wings during a match - but if Blackburn are short-handed in that department may look to focus on the left and cut inside.
Callum O'Dowda has also been impressive during City's warm-ups, and Lee Johnson could opt to use width and pace to try and get around a Rovers team who struggled against that style in their defeat to Liverpool.
The central area of Mowbray's team has been boosted by the return to fitness of holding midfielder Corry Evans and playmaker Lewis Holtby.
