Scott Wharton was left with a face ‘smashed to bits’ having been taken off in the 1-1 draw with Blackpool.

Wharton sustained the injury following a collusion late on in Saturday’s draw, and despite attempts to patch him up so he could return for the closing stages, Rovers opted to make a change.

It was deemed a concussion replacement by the officials, which allowed Rovers to make a fourth change in injury time as Ryan Hedges was sent on to replace Sam Gallagher who had been limping through the closing stages.

Rovers played with 10 men for a period, as the medical team tried to get Wharton back on the field, but unable to stop the blood flow, they opted to replace the defender.

“His face is smashed to bits,” Mowbray said of the injury.

“The doctor was telling me that he was going to inject it to stop the bleeding, but there was blood everywhere.

“It meant he had to come off, because his face was pretty badly smashed in.”

Wharton has started every game since returning from his ruptured Achilles injury in November, and despite being forced off, Mowbray expects him to be able to continue his run in the side when Rovers return to action on Friday.

Mowbray added: “The good news is that I’m sure he’ll be fine and ready for the next game at Peterborough.”

Tayo Edun was an unused substitute, returning to the squad for the first time in 12 games after being out with an ankle ligament problem.

Daniel Ayala wasn’t involved in the matchday 18, but is making progress in his recovery from a calf issue that saw him withdraw from the side that was due to face West Brom on February 14.

The Spaniard hasn’t featured since, but he is in the closing stages of his recovery and could play a part in the remaining games.

Reda Khadra missed a second game due to the calf injury that forced him off in the defeat at Reading before the international break, which saw the Brighton loanee have to withdraw from the Germany Under-21s squad.

Rovers hope that he will have a chance of featuring in the Easter fixtures to give them an extra option in attack, with the 20-year-old having been a regular starter in recent months, scoring five goals.

Meanwhile, Ian Poveda was at Ewood Park for the draw with Blackpool.

The winger remains a Rovers player, due to the agreement with parent club Leeds signed at the start of the season, despite him having not featured since November because of an ankle injury.

Poveda is back in light training but he is yet to return to Rovers full-time, though there is still a chance he could still play again this season.  

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