Nelsen to miss Cup clash

Blackburn centre-back Ryan Nelsen is struggling with a knee injury and is set to miss his side’s Carling Cup third round clash with Leeds tomorrow night.

The New Zealander tweaked his knee in a challenge with Birmingham striker Emile Heskey during Saturday’s 2-0 win in the Barclays Premiership.

Craig Bellamy came through a substitute outing in that match with no ill-effects after overcoming a knee injury, while Rovers manager Mark Hughes may chose to give run-outs to winger David Thompson, who has battled back from knee and ankle problems, and striker Matt Jansen.

Provisional squad: Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Gray, Bentley, Emerton, Tugay, Mokoena, Pedersen, Bellamy, Dickov, Reid, Kuqi, Gresko, Todd, Enckleman, Jansen, Thompson.