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Forget about his first game in charge, Sam Allardyce's first big test as Blackburn manager will come when he confronts Roque Santa Cruz over comments made prior to the win over Stoke City.

Big Sam barely had time to burn Paul Ince's desk (those who have read The Damned United will know what Gossip Shop is talking about) before the Paraguayan striker reiterated his wish to move on to a "bigger" club.

The declaration has left the new boss in a real dilly of a pickle. Santa Cruz is arguably Rovers' best player and before he took over the reigns at Ewood Park Allardyce sought assurances he would not be forced to offload any star players.

But a moody, wantaway striker is far from an asset - ask Juande Ramos about a certain Dimitar Berbatov - and with several clubs, including Liverpool, Aston Villa and the ubiquitous Manchester City, all interested in paying a staggering £18 million for the hitman, Allardyce could be tempted to sell.

Unsurprisingly, Allardyce's arrival at Ewood has sparked all the usual transfer speculation with his former club Bolton set to become the main focus of any January dealings.

The most obvious target is midfielder Kevin Nolan, who is better than Keith Andrews, Johann Vogel and Keith Treacy all put together. Now there's a thought, three players in one, the ultimate footballer, a machine-like phenomenon who never puts a foot wrong, a tireless, whirling dervish who scores goals for fun and lets nothing past him. Pure fantasy of course, but still that hasn't stopped Manchester City being linked with a £200m bid for him.

Anyway, back to reality. Allardyce gave Nolan - who's good, but not that good - his first taste of top flight football when he was in charge at the Reebok Stadium, meaning the Scouse midfielder would jump at the chance to cross Lancashire and re-join his former mentor at his current club's most bitter rivals.

Wouldn't he? Well, in a word, no.

"I'm delighted to see Sam back in football," said Nolan. "And I'm sure I'll be linked with a move to join him in January.

"But Gary Megson is getting the foundations ready here and that's what the last year has been all about for him."

Meanwhile, underfire City boss Mark Hughes - who the Mirror label as a 'chump' today, his picture nicely juxtaposed with 'champs' Manchester United - has explained why Elano was left out of the squad for the defeat to West Brom on Sunday.

Thankfully, his omission had nothing to do with any of the usual reasons - early morning 'tired and emotional' night-club indiscretions, out of turn words or such like - rather, more simply, because he's rubbish.

"Elano's performances levels have not been up to scratch, so I've left him at home," said City boss Hughes in The Sun.

That poor form could see the Brazilian leave the richest club in the world in January, with Espanyol claiming they are considering a loan deal. Lazio have also been linked with a bid for the 27-year-old.

Passing Elano as he makes his way out of Eastlands could be West Ham scamp Craig Bellamy, who City have again targeted to beef up their flimsy strike force after having failed with a £7m bid last summer.

But Aston Villa are intent on hijacking the deal, with the Daily Mirror reporting that Martin O'Neill is prepared to offer Marlon Harewood in part-exchange for the Hammers striker. Reports that Harewood will offset the price by a mere £29.99 remain unconfirmed.

Down to the south coast where Portsmouth stopper Sol Campbell fears that the mass exodus we warned you about on these pages soon after Harry Redknapp's departure may yet come to pass.

It seems the boardroom uncertainty as owner Alexandre Gaydamak looks to sell up may see more follow the Least Loyal but Most Refreshingly Honest Footballer on the Planet (TM) Lassana Diarra, who is Real Madrid-bound, out of Fratton Park.

"There are lots of things behind the scenes and I have to say it does not help really," said Campbell in the Daily Star. "It does not help this club.

"Preparation is spot on, but I think there are a lot of things behind the scenes with the club that need to be resolved."

In other brief news Hull City's Michael Turner, who has become this January's most unlikely transfer target (and, at £10m, quite an expensive one at that) has done his best to end speculation he is on his way out of the KC Stadium.

With Manchester City (again) and Liverpool both rumoured to be interested in the centre-back's services, he has been quick to state where his loyalties lie, even though a new contract with the club is yet to be signed.

Turner, whose current deal runs for another two and a half years, said: "My agent has had a couple of meetings with (manager) Phil Brown and hopefully in the next few weeks something can be agreed.

"We are looking to extend it and hopefully something can be agreed pretty quickly.

And finally, remember Andriy Voronin? He's the one that looked like Emmanuel Petit, but didn't play as well.

Last summer the Ukrainian went on loan from Liverpool to Hertha Berlin, where he has since managed to net three times in 13 appearances. And such electric form - well, more impressive than that seen during his time at Anfield at least - could tempt him to ask for a permanent move.

He said: "If the club really are interested in me staying, I'm sure we'll be able to find a way."

Oh, and Bolton and West Brom are weighing up splurging on Bristol Rovers' 18-goal sensation Rickie Lambert .

Mike Hytner / Eurosport