Blackburn Rovers Football Club News

• Nickname:Rovers
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Steve Kean

• Ground:Ewood Park
• Capacity:31,367

Roque hoping to avoid trip

07 Oct 2008 - 08:13:29

Click To Enlarge

Injured striker Roque Santa Cruz has urged Paraguay officials to allow him to recuperate from a hamstring problem at Blackburn Rovers rather than travel all the way to South America.

Santa Cruz limped out of last weekend's Premier League defeat at Manchester United and has withdrawn from the Paraguay squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Peru starting on Saturday.

Rovers have already called for the striker to remain in England and Santa Cruz himself believes that his recovery would be aided by the avoidance of a lengthy flight.

"I am undergoing physiotherapy here at the club," he told Paraguayan radio.

"The national team doctors will be faxed a report about the results of an MRI scan and, depending on that, I will know whether I have to travel to Paraguay.

"To be honest, the affected muscle hurts a lot and I am unable to run because it needs some time to recover.

"Unfortunately, I will miss both games. I would love to be with my team-mates but if I can, I will support them from here.

"There are lots of possibilities that I follow the treatment here so I would not need to fly."