Tony Mowbray has admitted that Blackburn Rovers are only now reaching a point where he has genuine options in squad selection, following a spell in which injuries stripped his matchday pool back to the bare bones and beyond.

Baradji and Carter back in the picture

Midfielder Moussa Baradji is in contention to feature in Blackburn's Championship trip to Fratton Park on Saturday (kick-off 15:00), while defender Hayden Carter has already contributed in each of the past two fixtures. Both absences had been keenly felt, and Mowbray made no attempt to dress up how thin things had become.

"Hayden and Moussa are back in the picture so it's good to have a few more choices off the bench rather than the academy kids," Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire.

He was also encouraged by the form of Andri Gudjohnsen, who came off the bench to score last weekend in the 3-1 win over Millwall. "I'm excited by Moussa over how powerful and technical he is," Mowbray added. "Gudjohnsen came off the bench and scored a goal last week so he's looking good and training well. It's good we have choices which, it's fair to say, we haven't had over the past couple of weeks."

That is a straightforward acknowledgement of a difficult run. Mowbray has leaned on academy players to fill senior slots, and while that carries its own value as a long-term investment, it is not a sustainable squad-management plan during a Championship campaign where results matter immediately.

Ribeiro and Forshaw remain sidelined

The injury list has not cleared entirely. Left-back Yuri Ribeiro will miss the Portsmouth fixture with a hamstring problem, and Mowbray was candid about the uncertainty surrounding his return. "Yuri is a no-go for a few weeks, I don't know the exact timings," he said.

More concerning, perhaps, is the situation around midfielder Adam Forshaw, who continues to be troubled by a hip complaint. Forshaw is due a medical consultation, and Mowbray declined to speculate on a timeline. "Forshaw is still an issue with his hip and has a consultation coming up so he won't be available in the short term but I don't want to speculate," the head coach said.

Hip injuries in midfielders rarely resolve quickly, and the lack of a clear prognosis is the kind of thing that forces a manager to plan in two directions at once.

Alebiosu fit to travel

There was better news on right-back Ryan Alebiosu, who missed the second half of the Millwall victory after falling ill during the match. Mowbray confirmed Alebiosu has recovered and is available for the journey south.

Taken together, the picture at Ewood Park is one of cautious improvement. Blackburn have banked a useful three points against Millwall and now travel with a slightly fuller complement of senior players than they have been able to call on recently. The squad is still not what Mowbray would choose it to be, but it is closer. In the Championship, where the margin between a working squad and an overstretched one shows up sharply in the table, even a partial recovery from an injury crisis carries real weight.

How Blackburn manage the remaining fitness concerns over the coming weeks will say a great deal about whether they can sustain any momentum in the second tier.

Frequently asked

Is Moussa Baradji fit for Blackburn's next match?
Yes, according to head coach Tony Mowbray, Baradji is back in contention and is set to feature in Blackburn's Championship fixture at Portsmouth on Saturday.
When will Adam Forshaw return for Blackburn Rovers?
Forshaw remains sidelined with a hip injury and has a medical consultation coming up. Mowbray said he would not be available in the short term and declined to give a specific return date.
Is Yuri Ribeiro injured for Blackburn?
Yes, left-back Yuri Ribeiro picked up a hamstring injury and will miss at least the next few weeks, including the trip to Portsmouth. Mowbray said he did not yet know the exact timescale.