DAMIEN Duff has been ruled out of tonight's derby crunch with Bolton Wanderers.

The Republic of Ireland winger, who has been on fire in recent games, missed Saturday's draw at Port Vale with a hamstring injury.

And, although he did some light training yesterday afternoon and this morning, caretaker boss Tony Parkes has decided not to take a risk by throwing him straight back into action.

And that will mean that Jason Wilcox is likely to resume in the left midfield role.

But Parkes had better news when his other injury doubts, Christian Dailly and Egil Ostenstad, were passed fit.

Centre back Dailly turned an ankle on Saturday and Ostenstad was substituted in the second half with a dead-leg.

John Filan also returns to the bench after a neck injury and Darren Peacock is again expected to play, despite a bruised heel.

Parkes said: "Damien was still feeling his hamstring a little bit.

"We need him back as quickly as possible but, if he had played tonight, he could have been out for four or five weeks."

Rovers midfielder and former Wanderers favourite Jason McAteer is ready for a fast and furious local derby.

"They are a team that always seems to play the same way, even when I was there under Bruce Rioch and Colin Todd. So it should be a great game for the fans.

"It's going to be quick and energetic and might be won in the last 20 minutes when the teams are stretched out a bit more." McAteer is one of three Rovers players hoping to play against their old club for the first time, along with Per Frandsen and Nathan Blake.

Parkes expects John Filan to be able to return to the bench after hurting his neck in training last week.

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

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was hoping that Icelandic Gudni Bergsson would be back in contention following injury.

But the player was less optimistic about his chances and Allardyce may be forced to choose from the players available for the 3-2 defeat by Tranmere on Saturday.

The Bolton squad is: Jaaskelainen, Whitlow, Johansen, Jensen, Gardner, Gudjohnsen, Hansen, Phillips, Fish, Aljofree, Farelly, Banks, Taylor, Elliott, Passi, Holden.

Charlton chairman Richard Murray has told Blackburn Rovers to keep their hands off boss Alan Curbishley, who is believed to be at the head of the Ewood Park hit list.

But Murray today said: "We haven't heard a word from Blackburn on the subject and, if they did make an approach, we would give them short shrift. "Alan signed a new long-term contract with us in the summer and, as far as I am concerned, he is very happy at Charlton and ambitious for the future of the club.

"Blackburn have not made an approach and we have no idea where the figure we would supposedly want in compensation is coming from.

"I had an hour-long discussion with Blackburn chairman Robert Coar last Tuesday when they played at The Valley and the subject didn't come up at all."

Parkes was annoyed with stories in today's national press, saying that he had been tempted to apply for the manager's job.

He said: "The situaion is still the same, no matter what has been reported. I have never been tempted by the job."

Rovers still insist that there has been no formal approach to any other club although Parkes did reveal that 'interviews' had been held at the weekend.

But one man who remains interested is Graeme Souness, who cannot be ruled out of the race and is a firm favourite with both fans and players. He said today: "I have not been contacted, so I cannot be high on their list.

"It is a job that would still be attractive to me but I presume they are looking elsewhere.

"It's a club that appears to be well run and they have a strong and healthy group of players, so it would be a cracking job for someone."

Parkes is expected to remain in charge for Saturday's cup tie at West Brom.

Gillingham have inquired about taking winger Jimmy Corbett back on loan.

But he is interesting a number of clubs, including Fulham, Bristol City and Millwall, and Rovers are weighing up their options.

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