ASHLEY Ward will visit a specialist later this week to find out the full extent of the damage to his injured shoulder.

The Blackburn Rovers striker left Ewood last night with his arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder as a result of a wreckless challenge from Riccardo Scimeca during the 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest yesterday.

An initial diagnosis by medical staff suggests the six-goal hit-man could be out for six weeks.

And with fellow frontman Nathan Blake also nursing a hamstring injury as a result of yesterday's clash, Rovers are now left with restricted options up front for the remainder of the festive programme.

That clears the way for Egil Ostenstad and Matt Jansen to force themselves back into manager Tony Parkes's plans, after both have had to settle for places on the bench in recent weeks.

But it comes as a hammer blow for Ward who has hit form recently with four goals in Rovers' last seven games.

The former Barnsley man today refused to blame Scimeca for the injury, however.

And he was unsure whether or not the defender should have been sent off for his 53rd minute challenge, as Ward burst clear.

"He certainly didn't want me to go past him so he made the tackle but there was nothing malicious in it," said Ward.

"It was just the way I went down. I fell awkwardly.

"I don't know whether or not he should have been sent off.

"I just tried to get there before him and knock it past him and I was probably in on goal.

"But when you are following the ball it's difficult to see whether or not he was the last defender.

"If he was, then it's a sending off, obviously.

"But it's one of those things and there's not much I can do about it.

"It's been X-rayed and I've dislocated a joint in my shoulder so it's going to take a few weeks to get fit.

"It's going to take about six weeks, or something like that." "And that's very disappointing because the team are doing well, we had another good victory yesterday, and of course you want to play."

Parkes also refused to criticise referee Mike Dean's decision to award Scimeca just a yellow card for the challenge.

"I'm not so sure I'm in agreement that everybody should get sent off for something like that," said Parkes.

"It was a clumsy challenge. It was a do-or-die tackle and, unfortunately, we ended up with a player going to hospital who now looks as though he's going to be out for six weeks.

"But I thought all their defenders were more-or-less in a line as Ashley burst through.

"It's very difficult for a referee to judge things because they happen so quickly. He decided it was a yellow card and a free kick and that's fair enough, I didn't disagree with it."

Parkes was quick to praise his players, however, for another workmanlike display against an improving Forest side.

And with games against Portsmouth and Wolves to come, he felt it was vital his team kicked off the festive programme with a victory.

"It was a big win for us after Sheffield United," said Parkes.

"We've had a long week and everything's catching up with the players now. They are feeling injuries and a few people are a bit tired.

"But I thought we dug deep and got a result and, at the end of it, I think we probably deserved it."

A first half strike from Per Frandsen set Rovers on their way before Andy Johnson equalised with a rasping volley.

Skipper Lee Carsley then wrapped up the three points after Damien Duff earned a controversial penalty midway through the second half.

Meanwhile, Parkes will need to check on both Duff and Callum Davidson before naming his side for tomorrow's clash against Portsmouth.

Duff has a slight groin strain and Davidson took a kick on the calf but both should be fit. Darren Peacock is also expected to return after a bout of flu. But Jason McAteer is unlikely to be rushed back.

Rovers will choose from: Kelly, Kenna, Grayson, Davidson, Harkness, Peacock, Dailly, Taylor, Frandsen, Carsley, Duff, Dunn, Johnson, Ostenstad, Jansen, Fettis.

Portsmouth will choose from: Flavahan, Crowe, Whitbread, Cundy, Hiley, Claridge, Igoe, Awford, Vlachos, Bradbury, Whittingham, Petterson, Waterman, Miglioranzi, Nightingale, Phillips, Robinson, Moore

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