SIMON Grayson has a fighting chance to be involved in Blackburn Rovers' home Boxing Day clash with Nottingham Forest.

The full back missed Wednesday night's cup win over West Brom after being hit by the flu bug that has swept through the Ewood camp.

Parkes did not expect the former Aston Villa man to recover in time to figure in Sunday's plans.

But the manager was expecting Grayson to train today.

And another flu bug victim, Matt Jansen, was also expected back on the training field.

Sunday's game, though, is likely to come around too quickly for Jason McAteer to bounce back from a gashed thigh muscle sustained on Wednesday.

Parkes said: "Jason was very sore yesterday and we are still waiting to see if he will be ready.

"For the bug victims we will have to see if they get any reaction to training."

If McAteer is ruled out, and with David Dunn also under the weather, Damien Johnson could be set for a start on the right side of midfield.

It is too early for a return for Keith Gillespie, who needs games under his belt before returning to first team action.

Darren Peacock is also expected to miss his third game as another victim of the virus.

Parkes believes that Forest may have turned the corner after a disastrous start to life in Division One.

He said: "They should have won the other week against Fulham and seem to have steadied the ship a little bit. They want to play football, that's definite.

"The league position doesn't really matter as, on their day, they are a good side.

"They are probably in a position that they didn't expect to be, but whoever you play in this league, if you don't take chances you will always struggle and it will always be a difficult game for you.

"Stern John is dangerous, a little bit like Dwight Yorke, and Chris Bart-Williams is a good passer, who likes to spend time on the ball."

Parkes believes that a lot of sides raise their game when they play at Ewood Park and expects Forest to make the most of a surface which encourages fluent football.

That has been the case in recent home games against Bolton and West Brom - to the visitors' cost as gaps were left for Rovers to exploit.

The manager added: "The pitches aren't always as good as they are at Ewood. So when teams come here it is always a good football match and teams have a chance to play.

"It's a different ball game at some grounds, like Port Vale or Sheffield United. They are tough places to go to because the opposition don't necessarily want to play.

"The fixtures over the holiday period look good on paper, it's just a pity we don't play on paper.

"So it's vital that we have a good home record until the end of the season because you are never so sure away from home.

Rovers will choose from: Kelly, Grayson, Kenna, Davidson, Taylor, Dailly, McAteer, Carsley, Frandsen, Duff, Jansen, Blake, Ward, Ostenstad, Filan, Fettis, Broomes, Harkness.

David Platt's main decision is on who to play alongside Trinidad and Tobago striker Stern John.

Dougie Freedman is the top scorer but he may be tempted to use the pace of Marlon Harewood. Andy Johnson has returned from injury and suspension and could challenge for a start in midfield.

The Forest squad is: Beasant, Scimeca, Hjelde, Doig, Gray, Bart-Williams, Quashie, Johnson, Prutton, Brennan, Freedman, Harewood, John, Crossley, Mannini, Allou.

A replay date for the FA Cup fourth round tie with Liverpool has been set for Wednesday, January 19. Tickets are priced £15 for adults and £8 for juniors.

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