**Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce will miss his side’s next three matches in order to undergo an operation on a coronary artery, the club has revealed.**Allardyce, who turned 55 last month, “complained of brief episodes of chest discomfort” according to the club.
His treatment involves an angioplasty - an operation to widen the artery using an artificial tube called a stent.
“Sam is very disappointed, but his well-being is of prime consideration,” said Rovers chairman John Williams.
“We all appreciate that Premier League football is a stressful business and prevention is always better than cure.”
WHAT IS AN ANGIOPLASTY
- Hollow tube inserted into coronary artery under x-ray guidance
- Device on tube unblocks artery and stretches artery walls
- Allows more blood and oxygen to flow to heart muscle
- More from BBC Health
The operation will take place next week, but Allardyce will miss Sunday’s game against his former club, Bolton, as well as the midweek fixture at Fulham and next Saturday’s visit of Stoke.
Assistant manager Neil McDonald will take charge of first team affairs until Allardyce returns, which is expected to be in time for the Carling Cup quarter-final with Chelsea a week on Wednesday.