BLACKBURN Rovers are facing a striker crisis after a foot scan revealed Jason Roberts will miss up to a month of their Premier League survival fight.

Roberts suffered a stress fracture in his foot early in Saturday’s win against Tottenham and it could leave Rovers travelling to title challengers Liverpool on Saturday with Benni McCarthy left as their only fit senior striker.

Initial fears that Roberts could miss the rest of the season have at least been allayed but club officials believe he will be on the sidelines for between two to four weeks.

Roque Santa Cruz is close to full fitness, having not started a match since scoring in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United in mid February, but the lunchtime trip to Anfield could still come too soon for the Paraguayan, although it is hoped he will be ready for the trip to Stoke in a fortnight.

With Matt Derbyshire and Paul Gallagher on loan at Olympiacos and Plymouth respectively, boss Sam Allardyce will know he will have to go with what he has got and will already be reviewing his limited striking options.

Allardyce could favour a 4-5-1 formation for Saturday’s daunting Anfield clash although the mercurial McCarthy would not be his preferred choice to be deployed in the gruelling role of a lone striker.

El-Hadji Diouf has played on his own attack under Allardyce before, during their spell at Bolton together, but it is unlikely the Senegalese international will be taken out of his effective left wing berth.

Chilean loanee Carlos Villanueva could also be utilised as a deep-lying striker but having not featured in a single league game so far under Allardyce his selection would prove a bis ask for the youngster.

Allardyce may even be tempted to use giant defender Chris Samba as an emergency striker again, after his impact during his second half attacking cameo in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Tottenham.

The African defender dominated Tottenham’s defence aerially after being pushed into attack and also held the ball up as well, having in hand in both Rovers’ late goals.

Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen admits Samba could be an answer to any striker shortage, after experiencing the damage he can cause at first hand.

Nelsen said: "I've had to mark him a couple of times and I've felt his elbows once or twice as well so now I get the young guys to try and mark him instead so I don't have to.

"To say he's a handful, doesn't really tell the story. He caused Tottenham a lot of problems when he went up front and he was always going to.

“I'm certain he would be a different sort of player to anything Ledley King or Jonathan Woodgate have marked before. He certainly gives us something different."

Meanwhile Vince Grella was making his injury comeback in last night’s reserves match against Liverpool at Ewood Park.

The Australian midfielder has missed the last four Premier League games with a groin injury, failing a late fitness test on Saturday, but should be in contention for Liverpool on Saturday if escaping unscathed from last night’s action.

Meanwhile there are still tickets left for Rovers crucial trip to Stoke City on April 18.

Tickets are now available to both season ticket holders and fans who have been to two or more away games this season and are recorded on the Ticket Office database.

Free coach travel is available to anyone wanting to travel with Rovers’ away coaches.

Rovers fans also have the opportunity to watch the last three Premier League homes for just £20, £10 for concessions, as the club launch their ‘Take Back Ewood’ campaign.