Aynlsey Pears will be absent for Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, and Sondre Tronstad will be out for a few weeks.
Illness kept the goalie from Tuesday night’s draw with Millwall. It has since been revealed that Pears had a head injury during practice and will miss time owing to concussion protocols.
Ryan Hedges and Callum Brittain are being evaluated, although it is unlikely that they will play in the game. The latter is back on the field after missing the previous three games due to a groyne injury, while Brittain also experienced a groyne problem midweek.
The fact that Tronstad won’t return until after the international break is the biggest setback. Due to an ankle injury sustained against Newcastle, the midfield player has missed the last two games.
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He will now miss Saturday’s crucial match against Plymouth Argyle as well as the trip to Middlesbrough on March 16.
“Aysnley Pears will be missing again on Saturday, I think,” remarked Esuatce.
“He experienced indications of a concussion after taking a little a hit during training the day before. We must exercise caution in that regard.
“A couple are currently on the grass, but I’m not sure if they will be available at this time.
Hedges has been putting in a lot of effort to position himself so that he may be accessible. There’s very little chance he’ll be free this weekend.
Joe (Rankin-Costello) will still be here in three to four weeks, and Sondre will likely be here in a few weeks as well.
“Everyone came through the match on Saturday apart from Callum Brittain. We will have to assess him.
“Again, that will be touch and go. We have a lot of tired bodies, a lot of players who have played a lot of minutes where they’ve had to.
“They really went above and above for us, even though we had to give them some rest. Most likely, we’ll have to ask them to return on Saturday. Everyone is battling and giving it their all.”
Leopold Wahlstedt will be in goal once again as a result of Pears’ absence. In his debut season in English football, the Swedish goalie has probably been called upon more than anticipated.
“That’s where we are, it’s an opportunity for him to step up and claim the number one shirt,” Eustace said.
“The other night, he didn’t have much to do, but what he did was OK. On Saturday, there will be another chance to do well.”
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