Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has expressed his sympathy for midfield ace David Dunn, who limped out of yesterday's 1-0 win against Everton after just nine minutes.

Dunn, who was one of Rovers' star performers last term, scoring 10 goals, picked up a slight groin strain, which Big Sam hopes isn't too serious.

"It was a disappointment, because David was our leading goalscorer last year.

"He has completed every single training session this pre-season and every game he has been asked to play in.

"Then all of a sudden, he overstretches for one nothing of a tackle and has over extended his groin a little bit, which is a great shame.

"That was a concern for us, but I've kept the squad together, the lads know each other better than they've ever done and Steven Nzonzi will be disappointed he didn't start.

"He came here last season not expecting to play and played every game, then this season he's not even got in the starting 11 this time.

"But that's the emergence of Phil Jones. We've dropped him in midfield in pre-season, because we know we've got two stalwarts at the back in Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen, so it's difficult for him to get in there.

"So we've dropped him in midfield and you saw what he can do. It doesn't need a trained eye like mine to show what a quality player, even in midfield, he is.

"So that was a big bonus. Everton did the double over us last year and we've gone and taken three points off them and that's a big statement I think."