DARREN Peacock is the latest member of the Rovers squad to be hit by illness and could be ruled out of Sunday's televised clash at Sheffield United.

The central defender missed training today after going down with the bug that laid low Damian Duff.

And, while manager Tony Parkes is opitmistic that wideman Duff will be available, Peacock could miss out and open the way for Martin Taylor to earn a starting slot in the back four.

"We've got one or two people with flu. Darren Peacock has gone down with an illness last night and we've got and Damian Duff ill. We're glad the game's on Sunday because it will give us that extra day to recover," said Parkes.

However, even that time may not be enough for Peacock to continue his run in the side.

"We'll have to wait for the doctor. He went to see him this morning but things aren't looking too good for players if they get ill on a Friday before a Sunday game. But we'll wait and see how bad it is," Parkes added.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Alan Kelly is set for an emotional return to Bramall Lane in what will be his first-ever return to play against a former club.

The Republic of Ireland international spent seven happy years with the Blades before moving to Ewood in the summer.

But the 30-year-old stopper has no regrets about making the switch despite spending the early part of the season on the bench.

And now he has made the number one jersey his own, he believes the presence of John Filan lurking in the background is making him a better keeper. "Coming here was a new challenge and I've never regretted my decision," said Kelly.

"The set-up is fantastic and there's everything you want in a football club here.

"But breaking into the first team for the last eight games has been the icing on the cake.

"It's been brilliant, I've really enjoyed it.

"But having someone like John to compete against really keeps you on your toes because you know there is a quality keeper waiting to displace you.

"I've been used to that all my career, especially when I was at Sheffield United with Simon Tracey.

"And it can only be good for the club to have two good keepers fighting it out.

"When I wasn't in the team I always encouraged John and backed him up.

"And, hopefully, that is being reciprocated now."

Kelly has been sensational since ousting Filan from the first team following the sacking of Brian Kidd.

But he has felt the benefit of playing behind a settled defence under Tony Parkes which was a luxury Filan did not experience during Kidd's reign earlier in the season.

"We are limiting sides to very, very few chances and if you've got a settled back four then it helps because of the understanding between them.

"But it's good for the club and the players that we have a settled team and that's down to Tony."

Kelly is also delighted that the club have finally resolved the manager's situation and ended the uncertainty in the dressing room. "Everybody is delighted Tony has come in and he deserves it after the way he has turned things around," said Kelly.

"It's great for the club and all the players that the situation has been resolved.

"We were talking about it as much as the supporters and everybody else.

"But the longer it went on the more likely it became that Tony would take over and we are pleased for him that he has.

"He has come in and stamped his authority on the place and everybody has responded."

Meanwhile, Kelly's old club United have also appointed a new manager recently in Neil Warnock.

But the Republlic of Ireland international is still shocked and saddened by the state the Blades are in at present.

"I'm very surprised to see how badly they've struggled because I've worked with a lot of those players," said Kelly.

"At the start of the season, I thought they might have had a bit of a chance of being up there.

"But, for whatever reason, things haven't worked out for them.

"It's something I got quite used to during my time there and I think a lot of it is off the field.

"There are various factions fighting amongst themselves and it's tearing the club apart.

"When that's happening there's no stability.

"I think I had six or seven managers during my time there and that says it all. "And now they've got another new manager in so there's probably going to be more changes in personnel."

Kelly does know something about the way Warnock operates, however, after spending two weeks on trial with him at Notts County prior to his own move to Bramall Lane.

And he is aware of what to expect from one his teams.

"He's someone who likes to get his players working hard for each other so he'll have them fired up," said Kelly.

"He likes people to get stuck in and let you know they are there so it's not going to be easy, despite their lowly league position."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.