Injured Ooijer Out For Five Weeks

Blackburn Rovers defender Andre Ooijer pulled up in the defeat to West Ham United on Sunday afternoon, and the extent of the injury has now been revealed.

It is a common misconception (probably with myself included) that Ooijer isn't always viewed as a first team regular this season, but he has played in all but one of Rovers' Premier League matches this season so the news that he will now be out for up to five weeks with a hamstring tear is a MASSIVE blow to himself and Rovers as manager Mark Hughes explained.

Hughes told the Official Blackburn Rovers Website: "It has come back and the official term is a grade 2.8 tear, so you are looking that he'll be out for a minimum of four or five weeks I would suggest.

"You would like to have the benefit of everybody fit and well, certainly in this Christmas period where the games come thick and fast, and the recovery time between games isn't great, so you need fit and able guys out there.

"So we'll miss Andre because I think he's been excellent, one of our better performers this season, but he's not available, so that gives an opportunity for other players that have been itching to get out there."

Ooijer missing out the Christmas and New Year period when so many matches are played and injuries can be picked up makes this even worse. He will be missed.


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