Mark Hughes insists he appreciates the advantages of staying at Blackburn - even if he is operating on a shoestring budget this transfer window.

Hughes was talked about as one of the leading contenders to succeed Sam Allardyce at Newcastle but insists he enjoys a strong position at Rovers.

Hughes said: "There's always speculation when any big job comes up. I seem to be talked about in good terms and I'm appreciative of that but it's just recognition of the work myself and my staff do here.

"I am in a very strong position here, I have a great relationship with the chairman and the board and that is really important.

"When managers have that relationship it's a big decision to forego that as the relationship is the key to whether we can be successful."

Hughes said he expected Allardyce to be back in work sooner rather than later.

He added: "I think the news surprised everyone given the length of tenure of Sam's appointment.

"It was not anywhere near long enough in my view to enable him to be successful.

"There is a lot of pressure and expectation with a number of Premier League jobs and certainly Sam paid the price but he's a proven Premier League manager and I am sure a lot of chairmen will be keeping an eye on what will happen to him in the future."

Roque Santa Cruz, who was yesterday named the Premier League player of the month, is set to return for Blackburn's trip to Bolton tomorrow to ease the club's injury problems.

The former Bayern Munich forward has not trained this week due to a groin problem, but should be in contention.

Tugay (groin) and Jason Roberts (foot) are out, and Aaron Mokoena is on African Nations Cup duty, but David Dunn, Steven Reid and Andre Ooijer could all return after missing the FA Cup defeat by Coventry last weekend.

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