Blackburn opt for lone striker

Blackburn striker Shefki Kuqi was asked to play the lone frontman role against Fulham at Ewood Park in the absence of both Craig Bellamy and Paul Dickov.

Bellamy is out for at least three weeks after pulling a thigh muscle in training while on international duty with Wales, while Dickov begins a three-match suspension following his dismissal in last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham.

Manager Mark Hughes resorted to a five-man midfield, recalling Tugay to the starting line-up, while centre-back Ryan Nelsen returned from a knee injury to take over from Aaron Mokoena, who was injured while on duty with South Africa in midweek.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman made just one change to the team held to a goalless home draw by Birmingham last weekend, with Papa Bouba Diop – fit after a thigh injury – taking over from knee injury v Sylvain Legwinski.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Matteo, Tugay, Emerton, Savage, Reid, Pedersen, Kuqi. Subs: Flitcroft, Enckelman, Gresko, Gallagher, Johnson.

Fulham: Warner, Volz, Knight, Rehman, Niclas Jensen, Malbranque, Diop, Claus Jensen, Boa Morte, McBride Radzinski. Subs: Helguson, John, Batista, Elrich, Leacock.

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)