BLACKBURN Rovers winger Ben Marshall is facing at least two months on the sidelines.

But Rovers boss Gary Bowyer has not ruled out Marshall being fit before the end of the season.

The 22-year-old was stretched off in last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Derby with an ankle injury.

And a second scan on Thursday showed that Marshall will require an operation.

Bowyer said: “It’s going to be a couple of months but we might just get him back for the end of the season.”

Bowyer – who lost Corry Evans to a similar injury in October – will also be without midfielder Lee Williamson for today’s visit of Blackpool to Ewood Park.

Williamson is suffering from concussion after being stretchered off in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Barnsley.

The draws with Barnsley and Derby have left Rovers ninth and five points behind the play-off places going into the Lancashire derby with the struggling Seasiders.

Bowyer said: “A lot was said about the Derby point but you just have to look at them and how well they’re going in the league to realise what a good point that was.

“For long spells after we took the lead we had to defend and our resilience was pleasing.

“Then at Barnsley we were pleased with the performance first half. I thought it was the most one-sided game I’ve seen for a long time.

“But we’ve got to develop a ruthlessness to put the game to bed. We can’t rely on anything else apart from ourselves.”