NOW it’s a question of who will earn their stars and stripes tomorrow after Uncle Sam strode into the Blackburn hot-seat.

Allardyce’s appointment is the best Blackburn could have hoped for in their current predicament.

I don’t think he can wave a magic wand in time to affect tomorrow’s game in terms of style and tactics. But there’s no doubt his presence will lift the Rovers lads in much the same way as any new boss can lift a struggling dressing room.

Of greater concern to me is the effect Big Sam’s arrival will have on the Stoke lads.

There will have been a collective sigh among the Stoke players when Paul Ince got the chop because they will have been fancying a crack at a Blackburn side without a win in 11 games.

But now we must see how they react, not only to Ince’s departure, but Sam’s arrival.

Tony Pulis knows he has to get their mind off that by making sure their own game is in order.

That job is even more important now Mama Sidibe, such a vital part in how Stoke play, is ruled out for the next few weeks.

Tony could cater for Sidibe’s absence by simply packing his midfield and leaving Ricardo Fuller up on his own in a 4-5-1.

But there is always a danger with changing your style too quickly because the players will do their nodding dog routine and insist they can make it work, then 35 minutes into your next game you’re stood on the touchline realising they can’t.

Stoke’s tried and trusted system has proved pretty good for them up to now, so I’d stick with it.

I’d go with Richard Cresswell in the Sidibe role because he’s a good, honest pro who’ll run all day for his manager.

Without Sidibe, without Liam Lawrence’s deliveries and probably Rory Delap’s throws as well, Stoke clearly need to find another route to goal.

Cresswell has to do the donkey work, while good quality must be played up to Fuller if he is to get into dangerous areas.

The set-piece will also be less of a weapon tomorrow because, just as Fulham had Brede Hangaland last week, Blackburn have Christopher Samba – and he’s a real monster of a player.

Blackburn also have full-backs who can get forward, and they have a player regarded by the rest of the Premier League as one of the best of his type in Morten Gamst Pedersen.

We all know Roque Santa Cruz is a top striker on his day and Matt Derbyshire is someone I know who has an eye for goal.

If there is one weakness, it might be in central midfield where Keith Andrews has yet to prove himself at this level and Tugay has clocked up a fair bit of mileage.

When you look at the Blackburn line-up, you wonder why it has gone so badly wrong this season.

I’m sure Big Sam is the man to turn them around, but hopefully not in the next 24 hours or so.