Jon Dahl Tomasson has confirmed that Blackburn Rovers’ first-team group won’t be involved against OGC Nice in the Premier League International Cup on Wednesday evening.
Jon Dahl Tomasson has confirmed that Blackburn Rovers’ first-team group won’t be involved against OGC Nice in the Premier League International Cup on Wednesday evening.
Rovers fans wanting their football fix during the international break can see the Under-21s in action at Ewood Park tonight. They take on French side Nice in the group stages.
The format is an eight-team group, with four English sides and four from overseas. Each UK-based club plays against those from abroad, but not each other, and the top-ranking sides progress to the knock-out round.
Mike Sheron’s side were beaten 2-0 by Hertha Berlin in their opening fixture, with Arnor Sigurdsson and Sondre Tronstad both featuring. They will also face Dutch side PSV and Sparta Prague after the Nice game.
Having lost their first match, Rovers really need to win. The team will be made up mainly of Under-21s players though, with the first-team given an extended break.
Players such as Niall Ennis and Semir Telalovic won’t feature despite limited game time in recent weeks. The first-team group have been given several days off and won’t return to training until Thursday.
Sheron’s side will still include familiar names such as Pat Gamble, Jake Batty, James Edmondson, Charlie Weston, Harley O’Grady-Mackem and Harrison Wood, all of whom have been around the first-team picture. Max Davies was sent off against Hertha and will serve a one-match ban.
They are remarkably light in forward areas though. Zak Gilsenan is away with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s whilst Tom Bloxham is with their Under-19s group. Kick-off is at 7pm and The Lancashire Telegraph will bring you full coverage of the game on site.
