Ben Brereton will return to Blackburn Rovers duty earlier than expected after he was booked in Chile’s vital 1-0 win against Paraguay in the South America World Cup qualifiers.

Rovers’ leading scorer played the full 90 minutes on Thursday night, but his first-half caution means he is now suspended and unavailable for next week’s key clash with Ecuador.

Instead, he will fly back to England over the weekend and will be back training with Rovers on Monday in preparation for the Championship trip to Bristol City on Saturday, November 20.

Brereton has achieved hero status since making his debut for La Raja in the summer and has gone on to score two goals in three World Cup qualifiers.

Chile went in to the clash at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium in Asuncion lying sixth place in the table with only the top four guaranteed a spot at next year’s World Cup - with the team finishing fifth going in to the play-offs.

But the victory, settled by an own goal by Paraguay keeper Antony Silva, sees Chile move to fourth place on goal difference with five qualifiers remaining - the next at home to Ecuador on Wednesday who are currently third in the table.

Meanwhile, Ryan Nyambe came through 90 minutes as Namibia drew 1-1 with Congo - his first cap in a year for the Brave Warriors.

Leighton Clarkson was a second-half substitute as England Under-20s who lost 2-0 in Portugal.