Blackburn Rovers FC

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Allardyce berates Santa Cruz

16 May 2009 - 11:01:30

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Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has lashed out at wantaway striker Roque Santa Cruz for continuing to try and engineer an Ewood Park exit.

The 27-year-old Paraguay international has not featured for Rovers since early March due to injury, but has continued to state his desire to leave Rovers in the summer.

An exasperated Allardyce responded by saying: "He has become a little bit underhand.

"These kinds of remarks always sneak out where we cannot control the situation. It has happened too many times for it not to be him and it is disappointing.

"That is life today, but Roque should really concentrate on getting himself fit and playing football for Blackburn, never mind talking about where his future may lie.

"Without his fitness and his capability of producing more than last season, he will perhaps struggle to get the move he is looking for.

"I have always got on with Roque extremely well and explained the situation to him as it lay in January. If someone meets the value, he is gone. It is that simple.

"It is a shame he has not been fitter, because he is a terrific player."

Santa Cruz has scored 29 times in 70 appearances for Rovers since his arrival from Bayern Munich, but only six of those goals have come this season.