ROVERS legend Chris Sutton will miss out on an emotional re-union with his former championship-winning buddies following Celtic's success in the UEFA Cup.

Sutton, who formed one half of the famous SAS strike-partnership with Alan Shearer, had been lined up to appear in Simon Garner's testimonial match on Sunday May 18.

But Celtic's victory over Boavista on Thursday night means Sutton will now be required by the Bhoys instead for their UEFA Cup final clash with Porto in Seville three days later.

The Garner Testimonial committee remain confident, however, that Shearer will still accept an invite to appear in the game between Rovers' championship winning side of 1995 and last season's Worthington Cup winners.

The Newcastle striker has promised to play providing he's still in the country when the match takes place a week after the Premiership season finishes.

A total of 10 players from the title-winning squad have now confirmed their attendance and former Scotland international Kevin Gallacher admits he can't wait to do his bit for a true Blackburn great.

"I only met Simon Garner a few months ago but I felt I knew him already. He's a legend at Ewood Park," said Gallacher.

"People always spoke of him in the same breath as all the other 'greats,' names like Clayton and Douglas.

"Simon is still the all-time record goal scorer and that's something to be proud of."

Gallacher has many happy memories of his own time at Ewood when he helped Rovers become the kings of England.

When Kenny Dalglish wanted to sign him, he met Gallacher in Southport -- well away from the building site that was Ewood Park at the time.

"I think he thought I might have been put off, but actually I was really proud to be part of that transition from the old to the new," recalls Gally.

"We were building something at Rovers on the pitch as well as re-building the ground as well."

Gallacher signed from Coventry in the late March of 1993 and featured in a dozen or so matches of Rovers' first season back in the top flight, when they finished in the remarkably creditable position of fourth spot.

His six years at Rovers brought striking stardom alongside Shearer and Mike Newell, but that spell was also tinged with sadness when a broken leg ruled him out for what proved to be the Championship-winning season.

He played just one game during that campaign, in which he scored and got another hairline fracture into the bargain!

But he will feature in the Championship side for Garner's testimonial and he can't wait to meet up with some of his old mates again.

"We still live in Blackburn and we love it here," said Gally.

Kevin hung up his boots this year at the age of 36 and now concentrates on radio work, and helping his wife Aileen set up her new home design business.

So any worries about playing again after calling it a day? "Well, I've kicked a ball about and I play tennis regularly. The brain thinks first and the feet try to follow."

The Simon Garner Testimonial Match takes place on Sunday May 18 at Ewood Park (kick-off 4pm).

Tickets are priced £12 and £6 and available from the club ticket office or by calling 01254 671666.

Corporate packages and boxes can be purchased by calling 01254 690909.