Blackburn Rovers pair Harry Leonard and Zak Gilsenan will both miss the start of the 2024-25 Championship season due to injury.
Striker Leonard, 20, sustained a dislocated shoulder at the start of pre-season while attacking midfielder Gilsenan, 21, is on the sidelines due to a muscle problem.
The duo will be out for seven to eight weeks, with further injuries picked up by Arnor Sigurdsson and Georgie Gent also due to be assessed.
“Harry is still seven or eight weeks away and Zak is a couple of months away as well unfortunately,” Rovers boss John Eustace told the club website.
“You can see the squad’s quite thin, so if any of our senior players do come off the pitch it is a worry.”
Blackburn begin their Championship campaign with the visit of newly-promoted Derby County to Ewood Park on Friday, 9 August.
Blackburn Rovers,Harry Leonard,Zak Gilsenan,Championship season,dislocated shoulder,John Eustace,Georgie Gent,Arnor Sigurdsson,attacking midfielder