Fulham v Blackburn preview

Hodgson: Must decide on duo

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Skysports.com prediction: Fulham 1 Blackburn 1

SKY BET odds: Fulham evens Draw 12/5 Blackburn 11/4

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Fulham and Blackburn both have the opportunity to move into the top half of the Premier League as they do battle at Craven Cottage.

Roy Hodgson's men had been in encouraging form prior to the recent international break but a five-match unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday with a 1-0 defeat to Birmingham.

The result left them one point and one place behind Wednesday's opponents Blackburn, who beat Bolton 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium.

Fulham will now be looking to bounce back and pick up a victory that would see them climb to 10th, as they are currently in mid-table limbo halfway between the relegation zone and where they would like to be challenging for European qualification again.

Hodgson must decide whether to bring fit-again pair Andy Johnson and Danny Murphy back into the starting XI for the clash with Rovers.

Striker Johnson (groin) and midfielder Murphy (knee) have both returned to full training after being out for more than a month.

Damien Duff and John Pantsil are set to be recalled to the side after starting on the substitutes' bench at St Andrews, although striker Diomansy Kamara (knee) is out for at least a fortnight.

Blackburn news

Blackburn's most notable absentee will again be manager Sam Allardyce, who is preparing to undergo minor heart surgery but should be back at work next week.

Allardyce had every reason to be proud of his players at the weekend as the win over local rivals Bolton catapulted them further away from trouble.

Rovers had lost all five of their previous away games and will be determined not to fall back into bad habits as they travel to London.

Assistant manager Neil McDonald, taking Allardyce's place in the dugout, has only one injury doubt with Gael Givet struggling to shake off a dead leg.

Lars Jacobsen came on to replace the Frenchman against Bolton and could start at right-back, with Pascal Chimbonda switching over to the left.

Keith Andrews is also pushing for a recall in midfield after being left out at the weekend in the wake of Republic of Ireland's dramatic World Cup play-off defeat to France.

Possible starting XIs

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Greening, Davies, Duff, Dempsey, Zamora, Nevland.

Blackburn: Robinson, Jacobsen, Nelsen, Samba, Chimbonda, Emerton, Dunn, Andrews, Diouf, Di Santo, Roberts.