ROY Hodgson has been struck a devastating blow by losing centre back Marlon Broomes to an ankle ligament injury, picked up in training.

And, while it is still not yet known how long the young defender will be missing, the Rovers boss has already ruled him out of the start of the season.

Coming in the wake of Colin Hendry's defection to Rangers, it leaves Hodgson with just two senior centre backs in Darren Peacock and Stehane Henchoz and he described the timing as "disastrous".

Hodgson had gradually come to terms with the Hendry situation but he said: "What became the real blow was to lose Broomes on top of it, because that was a complete surprise. "When you go into a training session working on the tactical side, you don't expect to lose a player because of it.

"It happens of course because football is full of accidents. But it was really unfortunate and if you are talking about the timing it's disastrous."

The manager was working with the defenders when Broomes fell awkwardly and twisted his ankle. He will have a scan to diagnose the extent of the injury once it has settled down but Hodgson fears it is a long-term problem.

"We had high hopes of him, he's had a good pre-season and it's a real blow to lose him like this," added the manager.

Like Broomes, Tore Pedersen (knee injury) will miss the start of the season and it makes the loss of Hendry even more critical.

"I really can understand the disappointment about Colin Hendry. We not only understand it, we share it, it's a club disappointment," said Hodgson. "But we couldn't nail his feet to the training ground or Ewood Park.

"We did fight. Jack Walker and John Williams fought David Murray and we have all fought with Colin but his will and determination to get away was so strong.

"And, when you are put in an absolute no-win situation, you only have to decide how you are going to lose and I think we have lost gracefully.

"To any right-minded person, I think we have come out of it with dignity and compassion. As a club we now have to get on with the job.

"It will have to be a case of our king is dead, let's find another king."

Kevin Davies has been included in a 26-strong squad called up for England under-21 training later this month.

Davies, who was playing for Chesterfield only 15 months ago, made his under-21 debut as a substitute in Greece last December and coach Peter Taylor said: "I'm sure he will be looking to progress and go on from there."

James Beattie, sold by Rovers to Southampton for £1 million this summer, is a surprise inclusion in the squad.

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