ROQUE Santa Cruz is expected to start for Blackburn Rovers in Saturday’s clash against Arsenal after coming through Paraguay’s latest World Cup qualifer unscathed.

The South American striker was withdrawn from Blackburn’s Premier League defeat at West Ham on August after suffering an Achilles injury.

He was subsequently left out of Paraguay’s clash against Argentina last weekend, but he played the full 90 minutes in Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Venezuela in Asuncion.