FIVE million pound striker Chris Sutton could be the man to fill the boots of Ian Pearce at Ewood Park.

Sutton may be in the frame to deputise at the heart of the Blackburn Rovers back line after it was confirmed today that Pearce will be out of Premiership action until December.

The England Under-21 stopper added to Rovers' long term worries after he missed Wednesday's Premiership defeat at Newcastle United.

Pearce was expected to have his injured ankle in plaster for another ten days and could even be sidelined for up to a month.

"He had the plaster put on as a precuation," explained physio Steve Foster.

"It is difficult to put a time scale on how long Ian will be out. A lot is dependent on the results of a check X-Ray when that is carried out after the plaster is removed."

Sutton, of course, is no stranger to the role and has deputised in that position for Rovers in the past, a place which ex-England striker Gary Lineker claims is Sutton's best.

There are reports today that he is the subject of a £3.5 million bid by Middlesbrough but reporters in the north east say manager Bryan Robson has no money to spend.

They say he would have to sell to buy.

If manager Ray Harford does not bring Sutton in for the Premiership clash with Nottingham Forest a week today, it would be a big blow to a large number of the Rovers support.

They want the Rovers chief to reform the SAS - the deadly Shearer and Sutton combination which delivered the coveted Premiership crown to Ewood Park last May. Ewood fans voted 4-1 in an Lancashire Evening Telegraph poll on Tuesday to bring back the partnership, even though Sutton has scored just once this season.

Meanwhile striker Alan Shearer is refusing to comment on reports that he has come under fire in a new video from Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.

Shearer will not comment until he has seen the video.

Yorkshire soccer reporter Tony Harrison is auctioning an Alan Shearer England shirt and a Rovers shirt signed by several of the Premiership winning squad.

Harrison is hoping to raise money for a Children's Orphanage in the Czech Republic.

Bids should be posted to Tony Harrison (Sealed bids), c/o Doncaster Free Press, Sunny Barr, Doncaster DN1 1NB before November 29.

No cash or cheque bids will be accepted and bidders should remember to include their name, address and telephone number.

Accrington Stanley skipper Stuart Anderson and defender Chris Molloy have joined goalkeeper Rob Mulloy in the Unibond League squad for the representative match against an FA XI at the Crown Ground on Tuesday.

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