Blackburn Rovers could have Ben Marshall back for cup clash

Blackburn boss Paul Lambert is optimistic winger Ben Marshall will be fit for Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Oxford following a foot injury.

The 24-year-old former Leicester man missed last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Championship strugglers Charlton after picking up the problem against Newport Country in the third round of the cup.

Marshall, who has recently been filling in at right-back, looks set to return at the Kassam Stadium, with Lambert telling reporters: “He got a nasty one last Monday and, even though he continued to play, the wound was too open for him to play (against Charlton).”

However, Lambert is sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Jason Steele because of a back problem suffered at the Valley.

The former Aston Villa and Norwich boss added: “His back is actually a bit sore so we’ll have to see how he is but he is pretty sore at the minute.

“To be fair to him he carried on and showed good courage.”

Loan striker striker Danny Graham is cup-tied for the trip to Oxford after he played for parent club Sunderland in their third-round defeat at holders Arsenal, with Simeon Jackson or Tom Lawrence set to step into the side.

Rovers are 3.25 to beat the U’s (2.20) with the draw also 3.25.

The League Two outfit warmed up for the cup tie with a 1-0 win at Portsmouth last weekend to consolidate their place in the top three.