Samba back for Blackburn

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes makes the one expected change to his side for the visit to Ewood Park of Portsmouth today.

With captain Ryan Nelsen out with a hamstring injury, Christopher Samba will plug the hole in the centre of defence after recovering from concussion incurred eight days ago in the goalless draw at Chelsea.

Following his side’s goalless draw at home to Liverpool last weekend, Pompey manager Harry Redknapp also makes one change, with Niko Kranjcar starting his first Premier League game of the season ahead of Benjani Mwaruwari - who is on the bench.

Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Bentley, Savage, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy.

Subs: Brown, Kerimoglu, Mokoena, Derbyshire, Roberts.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Muntari, Davis, Diop, Kranjcar, Kanu, Utaka.

Subs: Ashdown, Nugent, Taylor, Pamarot, Mwaruwari.