Santa Cruz set for first start in six weeks

Roque Santa Cruz will start his first game for Blackburn for six weeks as Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is without a number of players for tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Sunderland.

With fellow strikers Jason Roberts (knee) and Matt Derbyshire (groin) ruled out, Santa Cruz, who came on as a sub in last week’s 3-0 Ewood Park win over Newcastle after missing four games with a calf strain, is back in the fold.