Blackburn Rovers vs Wigan Athletic - Hope Akpan among Blackburn absentees for crucial Wigan match

Blackburn will have none of their recent absentees back for the crunch clash with fellow strugglers Wigan at Ewood Park.

Midfielder Hope Akpan will be missing for the final time having been handed a four-game suspension by the Football Association last month following his push on referee Scott Duncan.

Elliott Ward (ankle) and Tommie Hoban (shoulder) both completed 90 minutes for the development squad earlier this week but they are likely to be given another run-out at that level before coming into first-team consideration.

Corry Evans is still sidelined by a groin issue, while Adam Henley remains out with a hamstring injury.

Wigan hope manager Warren Joyce will be in attendance for the game despite having "minor but important" surgery earlier this week.

Graham Barrow and Andy Welsh have been put in temporary charge of the team and could be in the dugout in east Lancashire.

Latics have had no midweek game and Will Grigg may return to the starting line-up having been demoted to the bench last week because Joyce thought he was jaded.

Michael Jacobs (hamstring) could benefit from an extra week off too, but the likes of Nick Powell (hamstring) and Craig Morgan (toe) remain sidelined.