Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has ruled striker Roque Santa Cruz out of Paraguay’s forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, as well as, obviously, the crunch game against West Ham tomorrow.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino initally named Santa Cruz in his squad for the matches with Uruguay and Ecuador coming up next week.
Paraguay are understood to be sending a team of specialists across to England to confirm Santa Cruz’s condition.
But a defiant Allardyce, speaking to Sky Sports said – ‘We will obviously tell them he is not capable of travelling.
‘They are due to pay a visit, and we will have the discussion, but Roque is not fit to play any game of football until, at the very, very earliest, against Tottenham (first weekend in April).
‘It could be beyond that, so I can’t see him going to Paraguay because he is not capable of playing.’
‘I think he’ll be back this season.
‘He is responding to treatment, but a lot slower than we expected,
‘He is a talented player, we all know that, but I’ve managed without before as he was injured when I arrived.’
Don’t mess with the Big Man!
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