Appleton ready to take the reins
Mauro Formica and Grant Hanley are ready to feature when Michael Appleton takes charge of Blackburn for the first time against Charlton.
Appleton will be the fifth man to lead Rovers in the npower Championship this season, following predecessors Steve Kean and Henning Berg and caretaker managers Eric Black and Gary Bowyer.
Formica was substituted 10 minutes from time in last week's 1-1 draw at Wolves with a knock to his knee and centre-back Hanley followed the winger off due to a migraine but both are fit to play.
Former Manchester United youngster Josh King remains a doubt with a hamstring injury but Portugal Under-21 winger Fabio Nunes may return from a similar complaint.
Markus Olsson (hamstring) is sidelined alongside goalkeeper Paul Robinson (back), midfielder duo Dickson Etuhu (knee) and David Dunn (calf) and long-term victim Leon Best (knee).
Dorian Dervite returns to the Charlton squad for the trip.
The defender missed last weekend's 2-1 win over Blackpool through suspension after a red card against Huddersfield.
But his route back into the first team could be blocked by Matt Taylor, who impressed on his first npower Championship start of the season against the Seasiders.
Fellow centre-half Leon Cort is close to fitness after a hamstring injury but is not expected to be risked.
Striker Danny Haynes has also been out with a hamstring problem and he too is not far away from a return, but manager Chris Powell admits Blackburn may be too soon.
Full-back Rhoys Wiggins is still building up his fitness after a metatarsal injury.
Source: PA
