a severe setback for the Blackburn rovers “I probably didn’t realise the injury was as bad as it was”

Games against Middlesbrough have always been pretty fruitful for Sam Gallagher, but the latest meeting with the Teessiders didn’t go the way the forward would have liked.

Although Rovers triumphed against Michael Carrick’s men at Ewood Park last month, Gallagher was forced off with an injury and was seen with ice strapped to his calf.

Speaking afterwards, Jon Dahl Tomasson hoped the 28-year-old wouldn’t be out for much time, but the diagnosis from the scan detailed a much more serious issue for the striker.

The injury has seen Gallagher out for a month now, and the forward is likely to be sidelined for at least another month.

“I’m getting there, slowly but surely,” the frontman said to RoversTV when providing an update on his setback.

“I’m at the stage where I’m still doing work in the gym to get my body into a better position and getting ready.

“This injury has been especially frustrating because I came off in the game as a precaution because we were winning and we felt it would be best to rest up for the Wednesday game.

“With the adrenaline of the game, I probably didn’t realise the injury was as bad as it was, which was really frustrating, especially at a time when it felt we were getting a bit of momentum after that win against Middlesbrough.

“I’ve had quite a few niggles and I know what the script is when it comes to going for a scan and getting a phone call from Proccy [Andrew Procter, physio], you know it’s not really good news,” he admitted.

“I was shocked to find out how long the injury would keep me out for. It’s a tendon injury and you feel better quite quickly, but it’s one of those where you need to give it the respect to heal properly.

“I’m just looking forward to getting back out there.”