BLACKBURN Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen is wishing David Dunn a speedy recovery after describing the midfielder’s absence for tonight’s Carling Cup quarter-final as a “big miss”.

Dunn has been ruled out of the Ewood Park clash with Chelsea (kick-off 8pm) after a calf strain forced him out of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Stoke City midway through the first half, while Keith Andrews requires a fitness test after also being withdrawn through a calf knock.

Although Dunn’s is not believed to be a long-term problem, he is nevertheless doubtful for the weekend’s Premier League home game with Liverpool.

But Nelsen is hopeful of Dunn returning for the rest of the busy Christmas period.

“He’ll be a big miss. He’s our leading goalscorer and creates a lot of stuff for us,” said the New Zealand captain.

“David’s a huge loss. But it doesn’t seem to be a major (injury) so hopefully we’ll see him back real soon.”

Dunn was also sidelined, through illness, for Rovers’ last meeting with Chelsea in October, when they suffered a 5-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge.

Swine flu was sweeping through the camp as Chris Samba, too, was ruled out.

And Nelsen is determined to make up for such a heavy loss in what he feels will be an entirely different encounter at Ewood Park.

“It was not really the Blackburn team turning up - most of us should have been in our sick-bed not a football field,” said the 32-year-old.

“Having said that, Chelsea have the ability to beat any team by several goals as they proved on Sunday (against Arsenal).

“Of course it is going to be a big ask to turn it around. It is going to be a difficult game because they are a very good team, but we seem to be a different team at home than away.”