BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is facing up to the fact he could be without Jason Roberts for several weeks.

The former Wigan Athletic striker, who joined Rovers in a £2 million deal earlier this summer, damaged his groin in training on Friday and now looks certain to miss Thursday's UEFA Cup clash with Red Bull Salzburg.

Roberts will undergo a scan today to determine the full extent of the damage, but if it shows up a tear then the 28-year-old is likely to be missing for several weeks at least.

News of Roberts' injury is a blow to Hughes, particularly as the Rovers boss is also sweating on the availability of fellow striker Francis Jeffers, who deputised against Sheffield United at the weekend.

The former Arsenal and Everton hitman is facing a three-game ban, which would come into force against Manchester City on Sunday, if his appeal against the red card he received in a recent reserve match against Manchester United is rejected at an FA hearing tomorrow.

In the meantime, keeper Brad Friedel insists he's not concerned by Rovers' current league position, even though Saturday's 0-0 draw at Bramall Lane left the team in the Premier League's bottom three.

In a bizarre game, Friedel saved two penalties, from David Unsworth and Rob Hulse, to prevent Rovers from crashing to their third defeat in four games.

The former United States international said: "I don't worry about the league table in September.

"The league position is not a concern. We've got our first clean sheet and we will build on that. The way things have panned out, we have played three of the top teams this season.

"But we know at this stage if we get our first couple of wins under our belt, we will be up at the top again."

Rovers reserves are in action against Bolton Wanderers tonight at Morecambe.