Blackburn v Portsmouth Premier League Preview: McCarthy Likely To Return For Rovers

Blackburn Rovers v Portsmouth Premier League Match Preview

Saturday 7th November 2009

Blackburn Rovers, currently in 18th place in the English Premier League, host bottom-placed Portsmouth in their Premiership match at Ewood Park on Saturday afternoon.

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has just a few injury concerns going into the match, with South African striker Benni McCarthy now available after having recovered from a bout of swine-flu, while Christopher Samba and Steven Reid are both also close to full-fitness.

Vince Grella is the only major doubt for Rovers, with the New Zealander recovering from a thigh injury.

Portsmouth, on the other hand, are without right-back Steve Finnan, with the former Liverpool defender out with an abductor muscle problem, with Senegalese midfielder Papa Bouba Diop and Icelandic defender Hermann Hreidarsson both also out of contention.

Pompey boss Paul Hart, who has won his last two competitive matches 4-0, will be boosted by the news that Lyon’s on-loan striker Frederic Piquionne is likely to feature after recovering from a neck injury incurred in Pompey’s last match, a 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic.

Pompey are likely to start with Piquionne and Ivorian forward Arune Dindane in attack, with former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu on the bench as they strive to pull themselves off the bottom of the EPL, with a win possibly taking Portsmouth out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Blackburn Rovers (team to be chosen from): Robinson, Chimbonda, Salgado, Givet, Nelsen, Diouf, Andrews, Pedersen, Dunn, Brown, Reid, Jacobsen, Nzonzi, Emerton, Hoilett, Kalinic, McCarthy, Olsson, Jones, Roberts, Di Santo.

Portsmouth (team to be chosen from): James, Kaboul, Mokoena, Mullins, Kanu, Basinas, Belhadj, Vanden Borre, Piquionne, Ben-Haim, Yebda, Dindane, Webber, Brown, Wilson, Ashdown, O'Hara, Boateng, Williamson, Smith.