Allardyce to rest stars

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce will rest some first-team regulars for the FA Cup fourth-round replay with Sunderland tomorrow.

Allardyce is without Brett Emerton, who is out until the end of the season, and is likely to rest David Dunn and Benni McCarthy.

Roque Santa Cruz looks a certain starter while Danny Simpson, on loan from Manchester United, may take Emerton’s place.

Provisional squad: Robinson, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Ooijer, Olsson, Tugay, Mokoena, Andrews, Pedersen, Dunn, McCarthy, Santa Cruz, Roberts, Brown, Grella, Khizanishvili, Vogel, Villanueva, Judge, Simpson, Givet, Bunn, Treacy.