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Phil Jones' season in doubt due to knee injury

Phil Jones' season could be over © PA Photos

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Steve Kean's start to life as Blackburn caretaker manager was marred by injuries to three key players, with teenage defender Phil Jones in danger of missing the rest of the season.

Blackburn drew 1-1 with West Ham after Junior Stanislas cancelled out Ryan Nelsen's opener, but Kean's greater concern rests with the health of England Under-21 defender Jones.

The 18-year-old came on as a substitute at Ewood Park but lasted only 10 minutes before hobbling off after falling awkwardly in a challenge with Carlton Cole. Kean confirmed that Jones, who is considered one of England's brightest prospects, has suffered a serious knee injury, while Jason Roberts damaged a hamstring and Christopher Samba was also forced off.

''I think Phil Jones is going to be a long-term one,'' said Kean. ''He's got quite a bad knee injury, it'll probably be four or five months, which is terrible. He'll have an examination in the morning and probably have surgery in the morning, too. Jason Roberts has picked up a hamstring injury. We don't think Chris Samba is as bad, it's a slight twist in his ankle.''

Kean was left to reflect on a missed opportunity as Rovers failed to make it four home league wins in a row.

''We're slightly disappointed,'' he continued. ''Getting in front, scoring the first goal, we hoped we could get two or three so the lads are disappointed. They feel as though it's points dropped rather than winning a point. But we were left with a very offensive team with no holding midfielder, so I suppose a point, taking all that into consideration, is not too bad.''

Injuries were also an issue for West Ham boss Avram Grant, who gave Belgian keeper Ruud Boffin his debut after Robert Green failed to recover in time from a minor operation to remove a cyst, while Valon Behrami aggravated a hip problem in the warm-up. Despite that, the Israeli felt his team were unlucky not to win and praised the players for the attitude they showed in coming back from a goal down.

Grant said: ''I think we deserved three points today. We created chances, we created half-chances, we hit the post. The positives are I was very impressed by the spirit of the boys. They gave everything.

''With all the problems, needing to change the team at the last moment, we fought and we almost won. We were the better side and I liked it very much because I know top teams who miss two or three players and they have a problem.''

Grant is now hoping Green will have recovered for the Boxing Day trip to Fulham but praised the display of 23-year-old Boffin.

''It was a very good performance from Ruud,'' added the Hammers boss. ''We know that he's a good goalkeeper from training and he almost saved the goal.''

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