Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is unlikely to fully recover from his hamstring injury in time for Saturday's Ewood Park clash with Derby.The South Africa international missed last week's 1-0 Premier League win at Portsmouth and, despite training this week, boss Mark Hughes admits the game may come too soon.

McCarthy is therefore likely to have to wait until next week's final game at Birmingham to add to his 11-goal tally.

Rovers are more hopeful defender Christopher Samba, who limped out of the action at Fratton Park with a thigh problem, will recover in time.

Rovers (from): Friedel, Reid, Nelsen, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Bentley, Emerton, Vogel, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Roberts, Dunn, Brown, Tugay, Derbyshire, McCarthy, Mokoena, Khizanishvili.

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