Ince wants Roque fighting fit

Rovers boss hails star striker

Last updated: 14th November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ince wants Roque fighting fit

Ince: Cautious over Santa Cruz

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Blackburn boss Paul Ince insists he will not take any risks on Roque Santa Cruz's fitness.

Santa Cruz marked his return from injury with a goal in Wednesday's Carling Cup victory over Sunderland after two weeks on the sidelines.

The Paraguyan international is hoping for a starting spot in this weekend's repeat meeting with Sunderland as he looks to put his injury problems behind him.

Ince is wary of Santa Cruz rushing back and suffering a new injury as he knows how important the former Bayern Munich man is to the club.

"He was keen to start [at Sunderland] but that was never going to be the case as he has been out for two weeks," Ince told Sky Sports News.

Stop-start

"His season has been very stop-start, even though it is early doors it has been very stop-start for Roque and you have got to take care of him.

"I always planned to give him 25-30 minutes [against Sunderland] irrespective of what the score was just to give him some minutes on the park and I am sure he will be chomping at the bit to start tomorrow.

"He has been missed the last couple of weeks, even though we have played well I thought and deserved more points than we got.

"He is our talisman and just to see him in the changing room on Wednesday gave everybody a lift and when he came on when the game was evenly balanced that lifted us again and spurred us on and he scored with his first touch.

"It just shows how important he is to Blackburn Rovers Football Club and how important it is to get him fit and keep him playing week-in and week-out."

Absence
Ince also confirmed Benni McCarthy would be absent for the clash with Sunderland following the death of his father.

McCarthy has flown home to South Africa for the funeral and the striker is set to return to the club next week.

"We got word on Tuesday that Benni's Dad had suffered a massive heart attack," added Ince.

"He wanted to train but we told him to get over there because family is more important and it could have been the last chance he had to see his father.

"He died on Thursday morning so Benni will be at the funeral on Saturday and he will be back next week."