BLACKBURN Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen is a major doubt for tomorrow’s Premier League opener against Manchester City as Sam Allardyce faces the prospect of starting the campaign without five senior players.

The New Zealand centre half is struggling to make the visit of Mark Hughes’ men after injuring his knee in last weekend’s friendly defeat at Dundee, with left back Gael Givet expected to cover his absence in the centre.

Midfielders Brett Emerton (knee), Vince Grella (hamstring), David Dunn (thigh) and Steven Reid (knee) are also all expected to miss the clash, with a bumper crowd guaranteed at Ewood Park.

Allardyce said: “It is about keeping players’ fitness and getting Dunn, Emerton, Reid and Nelsen back in the squad as quickly as possible. Those are key players on how good a season we are going to have.

“That coupled with players we have already got and Franco Di Santo and Nikola Kalinic doing the business and scoring the goals and Steven Nzonzi emerging, will determine whether we have a really good season or just a mediocre one.”