Emerton back for Rovers
Blackburn midfielder Brett Emerton returns to the squad for Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Aston Villa at Ewood Park.
Emerton was forced to sit out the 3-1 defeat by Villa in the FA Cup on Saturday because of a groin problem.
El-Hadji Diouf is sidelined through suspension after being sent off in that match while Vince Grella is absent with a thigh injury.
Sam Allardyce has challenged Benni McCarthy to shrug off his frustration and steer Blackburn to the Carling Cup final.
The South Africa international striker is keen to move on as he does not feel that in World Cup year he is playing enough football.
The 32-year-old has made only nine starts for the club in the Barclays Premier League and League Cup this season and his business manager Rob Moore claims there has been interest in the player from a from a number of clubs.
However, McCarthy looks set to return to the side against Aston Villa in the semi-final first leg tomorrow at Ewood Park after finding the target in the victory over Chelsea in the last round.
While Allardyce admits he would love to keep McCarthy, who marked his debut season in England in 2006-07 with 24 goals, he will listen to offers for the player.
"I know and Benni knows why he is not playing as much but that is a confidential matter between the two of us, '' said the Blackburn boss.
"It really lies in his hands, not mine if he wants to play more.
"If he puts that right he could play a major part here and help us win a cup then go on to the World Cup.
"We want to see him playing to his best every week. He has been frustrated by his lack of playing time. So he wants to leave.
"But that would depend on how much a club is prepared to pay before we would think about letting one of our major scorers go.
"I have had no offers for him and as it is he is a Blackburn player. I know when he goes out on the field, especially at Ewood Park, generally we get his best performances there.''
Midfielder James Milner is Aston Villa's main injury worry with Blackburn at Ewood Park.
Milner missed the FA Cup meeting between the two sides on Saturday with a foot injury and was only able to undertake light training on Monday.
Midfielder Fabian Delph had to be substituted through illness at half-time in the 3-1 weekend victory but has now recovered to be included in the squad.
The likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Richard Dunne and skipper Stiliyan Petrov are poised to return after being rested for the FA Cup tie.
Dunne admits the clash is the biggest club game of his career.
The Republic of Ireland player distinguished himself for nearly a decade at Manchester City and before that played with Everton, but he has never progressed past the last eight of any major competition.
The 30-year-old said: "I've been to a few quarter-finals but every time I thought we've got a chance of getting to Wembley, we have been knocked out.
"There were games where we were expected to win when we were drawn at home but it never happened for whatever reason.
"I was a YTS lad with Everton when they won the FA Cup in 1995. That was a good occasion at Wembley but it seems a million miles away now.
"I think this is the biggest club game of my career. We're getting close to having a chance of getting a trophy and it will be good to look back when I've retired and be able to say that I've won a medal and played at Wembley.''
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