BLACKBURN Rovers will be without goalkeeper Paul Robinson for today’s Championship clash at play-off rivals Nottingham Forest – while top scorer Jordan Rhodes is deemed only fit enough for a place on the bench.

Robinson came off at half-time in Wednesday’s FA Cup third-round replay defeat at Manchester City with a hamstring strain and is expected be out for a week.

He has been replaced between the posts by Simon Eastwood.

Rhodes (foot) and captain Scott Dann (groin) missed the Etihad Stadium encounter.

But while Dann returns to the starting line-up, in place of Matt Kilgallon, Rhodes will start as a substitute having not trained this week.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer’s third and final change sees Rudy Gestede come in for DJ Campbell who, amid reports he is interesting Millwall, is not in the squad.

Neither is Ruben Rochina whose loan move to La Liga strugglers Rayo Vallecano is believed to be edging close.

Forest, who are four points above eighth-placed Rovers in fifth, have made four changes to the team which started their 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers last Saturday.

Their bench includes former Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire.

Forest: Darlow, Jara, Halford, Collins, Harding, Vaughan, Lansbury, Mackie, Paterson, Reid, Cox. Subs: de Vries, Moussi, Majewski, Derbyshire, Abdoun, Henderson, Miller.

Rovers: Eastwood, Henley, Dann, Hanley, Spurr, Lowe, Williamson, Cairney, Taylor, Marshall, Gestede. Subs: Kean, Kilgallon, King, Dunn, Rhodes, Morris, Goodwillie.