BLACKBURN Rovers boss Paul Lambert is hopeful that Ben Marshall will be fit for this Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Oxford United.

Marshall was ruled out of last Saturday’s 1-1 Championship draw at Charlton Athletic with a foot injury he sustained in the rearranged third-round win at Oxford’s League Two rivals Newport County.

The winger, who has played his last four matches at right-back, sustained a nasty gash to the back of his heel when being fouled by Scott Barrow in the box.

Marshall stepped up to convert the penalty he had won and he played through the pain for the rest of the Rodney Parade contest.

But, in the lead up to the trip to Charlton, the wound was stitched up.

And Lambert said: “He got a nasty one last Monday and, even though he continued to play, the wound was too open for him to play today.

“Hopefully Ben will get the okay for next week.”

Lambert will also have to check on the fitness of his keeper Jason Steele after he hurt his back late on against Charlton.

Steele came racing out of his goal to head the ball clear only to be clattered by Charlton substitute Reza Ghoochannejhad.

The Rovers number one eventually got back to his feet and he played out the final six minutes of added time.

He was unable, however, to take goal kicks.

And Lambert said: “His back is actually a bit sore so we’ll have to see how he is but he is pretty sore at the minute.

“To be fair to him he carried on and showed good courage.”

New on-loan striker Danny Graham will be cup-tied against Oxford having played for his parent club Sunderland in their third-round defeat at holders Arsenal.

But Simeon Jackson will be available for selection after being ineligible to face Newport because he was signed after the initial, postponed encounter.

Jackson will vie for a place up front along with Tom Lawrence for whom it will be his final game before his latest loan from Leicester City expires.

Rovers have so far sold nearly 1,00 tickets for the Oxford clash.