Roque Santa Cruz signed a new contract with Blackburn in August

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz is to undergo a scan on the calf injury that forced him to miss Wednesday night's 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa.

Santa Cruz was initially named in the Rovers starting line up for the match at Villa Park but was replaced before kick-off by Benni McCarthy.

Blackburn assistant manager Ray Mathias told BBC Radio Lancashire: "He'll have a scan to see how bad it is.

"We have to be very careful with calf injuries and make sure Roque is right."

We can't afford to play him in a game and lose him for five or six Ray Mathias

The Paraguay international's season has been interrupted by a number of injuries, which started with an Achilles tendon problem during a pre-season defeat at Wolves.

He suffered a recurrence of the problem in the 4-1 defeat at West Ham in August and missed the goalless draw at Bolton earlier this month with a calf strain.

Mathias said: "Roque was feeling his calf from training on Monday and Tuesday. Not playing him was the right thing to do.

"We can't afford to play him in a game and lose him for five or six.

"It's important that we make sure that he is right and plays 10 games on the run for us. That's what we want Roque Santa Cruz for," he added.

Blackburn will also check on the fitness of Stephen Warnock, who was substituted at Villa Park after suffering from blurred vision.

Rovers also hope midfielder Vince Grella will be available after a hamstring injury.

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