Blackburn Rovers are facing a key defensive decision ahead of Wrexham A.F.C.'s visit this Saturday, with wing-back Ryoya Morishita a major injury doubt. The 29-year-old Japanese international looks set to miss his first game of the season, forcing manager Tony Mowbray to consider tactical changes.
Jayden Fevrier replaced Morishita off the bench in Blackburn's last match and is pushing to start. Other direct options include Augustus Kargbo and Mathias Jorgensen. However, Wrexham's physical forwards and strong aerial record could prompt a shift to a three-centre-back system.
Wrexham's aerial threat shapes defensive approach
Wrexham's recent 4-1 win over Preston showed their set-piece power, with goals from Joe Worrall and Kieffer Moore. This aerial strength makes a three-centre-back setup a likely solution for Blackburn to counter it. That would mean a recall for Hayden Carter alongside Tom Atcheson and Sean McLoughlin.
Blackburn's predicted lineup and formation options
The predicted Blackburn XI includes Toth, Alebiosu, Atcheson, Carter, McLoughlin, Pickering, Morsy, Montgomery, Cantwell, Afolayan and Gudjohnsen. The wing-backs and central midfield pairing would stay the same whether they use a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 shape. Morishita's absence eases the selection headache over which forward to drop, though it could see Todd Cantwell operating from a wide right position out of possession.
Wrexham travel to Ewood Park sitting 14th in the Championship with 14 points from 11 games, having recorded three wins, five draws and three losses this season. They have scored 15 goals and conceded 16, leaving them with a minus one goal difference and 11 points behind the league leaders. Their recent form reads two wins, one draw and two defeats from the last five, a sequence that includes the 4-1 victory over Preston on Saturday 17 October, a 1-2 home loss to West Brom on Tuesday 13 October, a 1-1 draw at Derby on Saturday 10 October, a 2-1 win over Southampton on Saturday 19 September, and a 6-0 defeat at West Ham on Friday 11 September. A victory could see them close the gap on 10th-placed Blackburn in the standings.
They will look to top scorer Kieffer Moore, who has five goals this season, including one in the win over Preston and another in the loss to West Brom. The fixture, away to Blackburn on Saturday 24 October, is a key one in Wrexham's push for a top-half finish.
First reported at Lancashire Telegraph
