Blackburn Rovers suffer injury blow ahead of Preston North End clash as star man hit by World Cup heartache

Blackburn Rovers have confirmed defender Lewis Miller has undergone surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon ahead of Friday night’s home game with Lancashire rivals PNE.

The former Hibernian full-back suffered the injury in Saturday’s win at Queens Park Rangers as Michael O’Neil kicked off his managerial reign with a win in the capital. However, that win came at a cost as Australia international Miller picked up a serious injury that has brought an end to his season and will rule him out of contention for this summer’s World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The Socceroos are set to face the USA, Paraguay and one European qualifier from the play-offs in the group stage of the tournament - but Miller will not be available as he starts what will be a painstaking recovery and rehabilitation after an operation was carried out by what Rovers described as ‘a world-leading foot and ankle surgeon’.

A statement posted on the Rovers club website read: “The Australian defender was stretchered off early in the second half at Loftus Road and subsequent scans have confirmed a complete rupture of his Achilles tendon. The 25-year-old has this evening undergone an operation, carried out by a world-leading foot and ankle surgeon.

“As a result, Miller is expected to be sidelined for around nine months, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2025-26 Championship campaign, as well as this summer’s FIFA World Cup. The Australia international will receive the full care and support of everyone at the club throughout his rehabilitation, and everyone at Rovers wishes him a full and speedy recovery. We’re all with you, Lewis.”

What has Michael O’Neil said about Blackburn Rovers battle against relegation?

Speaking after the weekend win against QPR, O’Neill said: “I think the goals have been a concern because we’re the second-lowest scorers in the league, but the two did really well. We played forward quickly and we have a player who is prepared to run beyond, like Matti [Jorgensen] did all day, and then it was a real bit of quality for the third," he beamed.

“We showed great character and you could see the positive atmosphere from the group in the dressing room at half time. I said to the boys before the game that we have to change the picture of our season so far, we have 15 games left and we can’t waste a game.”

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