Stoke City: Blackburn Rovers squad to face Potters

PAUL ROBINSON

THE 30-year-old keeper is quietly and impressively rebuilding his career at Blackburn after falling out of favour with Tottenham and England.

Unfortunately, he is still best remembered for his air-shot in England's European Championships qualifying defeat to Croatia three years ago.

PASCAL CHIMBONDA

THE flying right-back made his name in England with Wigan Athletic in his 2005/2006 debut season. Helped the Latics to the Carling Cup final and was named in the PFA team of the season before joining Tottenham.

Left for Sunderland at the start of last season, but was then re-signed by new Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. Joined Blackburn in the summer.

RYAN NELSEN

STRAPPING central defender and Rovers captain. Will be skippering New Zealand in the World Cup next summer after helping the Kiwis qualify for the finals for the first time since 1982.

CHRISTOPHER SAMBA

THE 25-year-old Congo international forms a formidable central defensive partnership with Nelsen. Samba was signed for £400,000 by former boss Mark Hughes and is occasionally used as an emergency striker.

GAEL GIVET

THE 28-year-old France international joined from Marseille in January. Can also play at centre-back, but will be on the left of the defence tomorrow.

BRETT EMERTON

ANOTHER player who will be featuring in the World Cup, the 30-year-old Aussie can play at right-back and in the centre or right of midfield.

Now in his seventh season with Rovers after a £2.2m move from Feyenoord. Likely to be producing an industrious performance on the right of midfield.

STEVEN N'ZONZI

THE 6ft 3in central midfielder was signed from Amiens in the summer. A France under-21 international, he was considered to be one for the future, but has already made an impact at Rovers, having started 10 Premier League games.

DAVID DUNN

MIDFIELDER is recapturing the form which earned him an England cap seven years ago. His talent has never been doubted, but the 29-year-old is proving he has the discipline to play in a two-man central midfield.

EL-HADJI DIOUF

TALENTED but controversial forward whose misdemeanours include spitting at Middlesbrough supporters and at Portsmouth's Arjan de Zeeuw.

Rival fans love to hate him. He's mates with Abdoulaye Faye though, so we won't be slagging him off.

FRANCO DI SANTO

THE 20-year old Argentinian striker is on loan from Chelsea until January. The 6ft 4in hitman has scored once in his nine games for Rovers.

JASON ROBERTS

THE former Bristol Rovers, Portsmouth and Wigan striker brings pace and power to the Rovers front line.

Now 31, Roberts has scored three goals in his nine Rovers appearances this season. He is the nephew of West Brom legend Cyrille Regis.

NIKOLA KALINIC

THE 21-year-old has two caps for Croatia. The 6ft 2in hitman was signed from Hadjuk Split in August for £6m.

Has yet to start a Premier League game and hasn't scored in his six league substitute appearances.

BENNI McCARTHY

SOUTH Africa striker who joined Rovers for £2.5m from Porto three years ago. The 32-year-old scored twice in Blackburn's 3-0 home win over Stoke last December.

KEITH ANDREWS

GLENN Whelan's central midfield partner in the Republic of Ireland team.

The 29-year-old spent three months on loan at Stoke from Wolves at the start of the 2003-2004 season.

VINCE GRELLA

THE 30-year-old is an Australian international of Italian parents. The midfielder played for Empoli, Parma and Torino before moving to England with Rovers last season.

MORTEN GAMST PEDERSEN

THE 28-year-old Norwegian international provides quality service from the left of midfield.

WAYNE BROWN

DEPUTY goalkeeper is a Wales international who joined Rovers from Gillingham three years ago.

MICHEL SALGADO

THE former Real Madrid full-back has 53 caps for Spain. He joined Rovers on a two-year deal in the summer and as still a force, despite being 34 now.