BLACKBURN Rovers manager Sam Allardyce will miss the next three Barclays Premier League matches as he is to have an operation.

The Rovers boss will be absent from tomorrow's game against former club Bolton, the midweek fixture at Fulham and Stoke at Ewood Park next weekend as he is having an angioplasty, a procedure which will widen one of his coronary arteries.

Assistant manager Neil McDonald will take charge in his absence.

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Allardyce had recently complained of brief episodes of chest pains and investigations revealed a narrowing of one of his coronary arteries, which will be corrected by the insertion of a stent next week.

He is, however, expected to be back in the dug-out for the Carling Cup quarter-final with Chelsea a week on Wednesday.

"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."