ALAN Shearer is set to miss out on tonight's FA Cup fifth round replay after going down with a bout of flu.

The England captain, who also missed a Premiership return to Ewood in December with hamstring problems, was left behind last night when his Newcastle United team-mates set off for Blackburn.

And, while Ruud Gullit harboured hopes that the £15 million striker might be able to travel today and still make the cup clash with Blackburn Rovers, the information from Tyneside was that he had "no chance" of playing.

Shearer, who has yet to taste victory on a return to either of his former clubs Rovers and Southampton, would have been a major threat tonight.

His former Newcastle team-mate Darren Peacock, set to return for the injured Stephane Henchoz, had to face Shearer in the first FA Cup clash at St James's Park and knows the dangers he could have posed, despite recent criticism.

"He's still the same player in my book and extremely dangerous. He's big, powerful and physically strong," said Peacock.

Rovers boss Brian Kidd will not be too disappointed to see Shearer absent but the manager has problems of his own to sort out, with injuries and two of his recent recruits, Matt Jansen and Jason McAteer, cup-tied.

Kidd put on a brave front as he looked at assembling a team he hopes will be able to clinch a home game against Everton in the quarter finals. But his options have been seriously reduced, especially in midfield with Billy McKinlay having gone into hospital for surgery on a groin injury.

McKinlay looks like being out for the rest of the season, like Garry Flitcroft. And there are still no signs of Christian Dailly (thigh) or Kevin Gallacher (calf) being ready.

Rovers are expected to choose from: Filan, Kenna, Peacock, Broomes, Davidson, Gillespie, Dunn, Wilcox, Duff, Ward, Blake, Marcolin, Croft, Davies, Konde, Taylor, Worrell, Flowers.

Newcastle could well pair Louis Saha, on long-term loan from Metz, and Temuri Ketsbaia up front in Shearer's absence but Paul Dalglish is also in the squad.

They are also without the injured Stephen Glass and will choose from: Given, Charvet, Howey, Dabizas, Domi, Solano, Hamann, Speed, Brady, Ketsbaia, Saha, Barton, Dalglish, Georgiadis, Hughes, Lee, Harper.

Brian Kidd was still waiting today for the referee's report on the Marlon Broomes red card at Chelsea. Rovers have videos of the incident but need the report before deciding whether there is a case for an appeal.

The FA revealed today that there was no mention of an alleged gesture by Chris Sutton to Frank Leboeuf in the referee's report from the game which has been sent to them. "It only mentions his yellow card," said a spokesman.

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