Source: SKY_Sports
Big Sam rules out Roque
Sam Allardyce has made it clear that Roque Santa Cruz will not be allowed to link up with Paraguay for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers. Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino this week named Santa Cruz in his squad for the matches with Uruguay and Ecuador on 28th and 31st March.However, the striker has a knee problem and will miss a third consecutive Premier League game when Blackburn host West Ham on Saturday.Paraguay are understood to be sending a delegation across to England, including the team doctor and kinesiologist, to check on Santa Cruz's fitness.But Allardyce does not expect Santa Cruz to be back in contention for at least a couple of weeks."We will obviously tell them he is not capable of travelling," said the Rovers manager.Discussion"They are due to pay a visit, and we will have the discussion, but Roque is not fit to play any game of football until, at the very, very earliest, against Tottenham (on 4th April)."It could be beyond that, so I can't see him going to Paraguay because he is not capable of playing."Allardyce is confident Santa Cruz will return to action in time to play some part in Blackburn's battle against relegation.He said: "I think he'll be back this season. He is responding to treatment, but a lot slower than we expected."He is a talented player, we all know that, but I've managed without before as he was injured when I arrived."Clarke praiseMeanwhile, Allardyce has paid tribute to West Ham assistant boss Steve Clarke for turning Gianfranco Zola's side into a more resilient outfit.Allardyce believes Clarke, who worked under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, will tell his West Ham players to adopt a defensive approach against Blackburn."If West Ham do come and attack us then that leaves them open, but I don't think they'll do that," said Allardyce."Steve Clarke is there, and I know him really well, and they won't come and attack."They'll sit back, try and frustrate us, and make the game very, very tight because Steve, under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho, always did that at Chelsea."