SAM Allardyce is on the road to recovery following heart surgery, but will miss tonight’s Carling Cup quarter final with Chelsea.

Assistant Neil McDonald said the Blackburn Rovers boss was feeling “much better in himself” after undergoing an angioplasty last Friday morning, but is under doctor’s orders not to return to work until tomorrow at the earliest.

“He has been in a good mood. He is taking tablets and stuff like that and has been on the road to recovery,” confirmed McDonald.

“He is feeling better than before the op, which is great, and he is just waiting for that time to come back.

“That probably won’t be until Thursday or Friday, but he is very happy with his recovery and feels very comfortable.

“He isn’t coming to the game. He will be the first person I talk to after the game - unless the wife phones! He usually texts me to say well done and ask me to give him a call when I can.”

Until Allardyce returns to the Ewood Park hotseat, McDonald will continue to take charge of team affairs.

“We will do exactly what we have done since he has been away.

"We have spoken about the team and tactics then it is up to myself and the rest of the coaching staff to put that together,” he added.

“We have done that in the training field and the video room and implemented it on the pitch.

"We have only come away from Fulham with a disappointing result so we will do exactly what we have done in the past and hopefully get a good result.”