Source: Daily_Mail
Blackburn's Allardyce to miss Chelsea clash but will soon return after surgery
Sam Allardyce will miss Blackburn's Carling Cup quarter-final against Chelsea on Wednesday night, assistant manager Neil McDonald has confirmed.[LNB]Allardyce, who has been absent for the team's last three games, underwent heart surgery last week and is recovering at home.[LNB]It was initially hoped he would return to the dugout for the cup tie at Ewood Park, but Allardyce is now not expected back at work until Friday, a day before Rovers host Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB] Planning to return: Sam Allardyce[LNB]'He is at home, he's convalescing and hopefully he will be back in work on Friday,' said McDonald, who will continue to stand in for the former Bolton and Newcastle boss.[LNB]Asked whether it had been optimistic to expect Allardyce back early this week, McDonald said: 'It probably was, yes, but all you can do is take the medical advice.[LNB]'He has got through the procedure which is really good and he sounds in fantastic spirits. He can't wait to get back and hopefully Friday will be his first day back.'[LNB]So far McDonald has overseen a 2-0 win at Bolton - Blackburn's first away victory of the season - followed by a 3-0 defeat at Fulham and a goalless draw with Stoke at Ewood Park on Saturday.[LNB]Number two: Neil McDonald[LNB]Allardyce has maintained a heavy influence over team selection and decision-making during that time and McDonald said both he and the manager were feeling positive about how things were progressing in his absence.[LNB]'My phone bill is probably sky-high at the moment but that is the way it has to be,' McDonald said.[LNB]'He is the manager of the football club and we all have to keep in touch with him to see what his views are.[LNB]'He has watched the games afterwards and it has given him time to analyse everything.[LNB]'He gives us a little bit of feedback and then we have to implement whatever he wants on the training ground.[LNB]'We have done that and got a few decent results, despite not picking anything up at Fulham.[LNB]'It could have gone either way against Stoke - we could have pinched it at the end and got three points. But we have also got our first away victory since he has been away so I think it's all positive.'[LNB] Gravy train: Big spenders are City and Chelsea as clubs pay £70m to agentsSam Allardyce is the missing link for Rovers in frustrating stalemateBLACKBURN ROVERS FC
