Blackburn Rovers players are ‘tired’ ahead of their match against Leeds United as an injury crisis takes its toll.

With so many players ruled out, Rovers midfielder Sammie Szmodics admits it has been difficult.

Leeds United rarely face teams with worse injury problems, especially in recent seasons. However, in Saturday’s trip to Ewood Park, Daniel Farke‘s men will face a bare-bones Blackburn Rovers side.

Joh-Dahl Tomasson was forced to name four academy graduates on his bench for the club’s Championship defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Nine first-team players were absent from the 3-1 loss at Hillsborough.

Both Leeds and Blackburn have a week off before facing each other this weekend, and Rovers midfielder Sammie Szmodics admits the team’s injury woes are taking their toll, with the players ‘tired’ after the defeat to the Owls.

However, he refused to use injuries as an excuse, pledging that they would use the time without a midweek fixture to prepare for the televised match against Leeds United on Saturday.

“Yeah, it’s a young bench, a young team,” he said, according to the Lancashire Telegraph. “There have been numerous injuries.” Tyrhys Dolan, (Arnor) Sigurdsson didn’t travel, and we’ve been bombarded with them.

“We can’t complain because this is football.” The squad isn’t massive, but the starting XI has been consistent all season. The bench was very young, and it was a fantastic learning experience for them.

“We are all disappointed with the outcome today, but we will try again.” Everyone is hurting and tired in there, so it’s the ideal time for a free week.

“The bench is very young, we have found consistency in our form and the manager wants to keep the team the same because we have formed relationships in these games and played well.”

Rovers have had a mixed season, winning three of their last five Championship games while also losing to Wednesday and Preston North End. Leeds, on the other hand, has only lost one league game since the end of September.