Threatened in the relegation zone, Blackburn Rovers are level at 18 points with West Ham United and three points away from safety (Stoke City with 21) will take on Newcastle who are currently 11th with 23 points and a negative six-goal difference. Blackburn are having a torrid season, just like Zola's Hammers, but the same can be said about Newcastle: a disappointing season for now, with only four points separating the Toons from the relegation zone themselves.

Striker Roque Santa Cruz and midfielder David Dunn will return to Blackburn's squad for the game with Newcastle which will be a boost for the Rovers. Santa Cruz had missed the last four matches with a calf strain which did have an impact on his team, whereas Dunn was out for a considerable time with a hamstring problem.

There is a glimmer of hope for the Rovers, however. Benni McCarthy has singled out the appointment of Sam Allardyce as the reason behind Rovers' turnaround in fortunes. After going through a very hard spell for the supporters, a total of 11 league games without a win, Rovers are now four fixtures unbeaten under their new manager, much to the delight of McCarthy.

"It is fantastic when a new manager comes in - it can give players who haven't been playing that much a chance," said the Rovers striker. Obviously I got the nod and got to play, and that is fantastic. I've tried to do my best and I got on the goalscoring charts and the manager has started to get more belief in me and I've started to play more," he told the official Rovers website.

Meanwhile, Newcastle will go to Ewood Park with some selection problems of their own: Steven Taylor is battling with fitness from a calf knock, and Andy Carroll recovering from hamstring injury are hoping to pass the latest fitness tests and be included in the Magpies squad, but Joey Barton is definitely out for this match, having sustained a knee injury.


Blackburn (available) Robinson, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Tugay, Mokoena, Andrews, Dunn, Grella, Pedersen, McCarthy, Santa Cruz, Derbyshire, Roberts, Brown, Khizanishvili, Treacy, Simpson, Olsson.

Newcastle ((available) Given, Harper, Bassong, Coloccini, Taylor, Edgar, Kadar, Butt, Guthrie, N'Zogbia, Duff, Gutierrez, Donaldson, Godsmark, Owen, Xisco, Carroll, LuaLua, Ranger.