Sam Allardyce to undergo heart operation and miss next three Blackburn games

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce will miss tomorrow's trip to his former club Bolton after it was revealed he would undergo an operation.

The 55-year-old has complained of brief episodes of chest pains in recent weeks and tests have revealed he requires an angioplasty - a procedure that involves inserting a stent to widen a narrowed coronary artery.

Allardyce will therefore miss Rovers' next three matches as he recovers from the operation with assistant manager Neil McDonald to take charge for the following games against Fulham in midweek and Stoke at Ewood Park next weekend.

The former Bolton boss, who spent eight seasons at the Reebok, is expected to return for Rovers' Carling Cup tie against Chelsea on Wednesday week.

"Sam is very disappointed, particularly at missing the Bolton fixture, but his well being is of prime consideration," Blackburn chairman John Williams told rovers.co.uk.

"We all appreciate that Premier League football is a stressful business and prevention is always better than cure."

In Allardyce's absence Rovers will aim to halt their horrendous Barclays Premier League away form.