Samba set for Blackburn return

Blackburn expect to have central defender Chris Samba back for tomorrow night’s tough Barclays Premier League trip to Aston Villa.

The 24-year-old missed Saturday’s draw with Middlesbrough at Ewood Park due to an ankle injury, but he should come into the starting XI .

Striker Benni McCarthy, who came off the bench to score the last-ditch equaliser against Boro, is in contention for a first start of the campaign after regaining match fitness, although Australian midfielder Vince Grella may sit out the match to rest a hamstring problem.

Team (from): Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Nelsen, Ooijer, Emerton, Tugay, Warnock, Villanueva, Roberts, Fowler, McCarthy, Derbyshire, Pedersen, Olsson, Andrews, Brown, Grella, Khizanishvili, Treacy.