BLACKBURN Rovers will be keeping a fearful eye on Chelsea’s appeal over their shock FIFA transfer ban - with Franco Di Santo’s Ewood Park future thrown into further uncertainty.

Rovers always knew they faced the risk of losing the Blues’ loanee back to Stamford Bridge in four months time, having secured him on a deal until January, but Chelsea’s two-window block has further reduced the chances of extending the Argentine’s stay to the season end.

The Premier League title challengers have though pledged to fight the ruling that prevents them signing any players until January 2011, due to their controversial capture of teenager Gael Kakuta in 2007, but failure in their appeal could leave them needing the services of Di Santo.

Chelsea chief Carlo Ancelotti already knew he faced going into January without strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, as well as Michael Essien and Mikel, due to African Nations Cup duty and sources close to the Stamford Bridge outfit believe they will now be left with little choice but recall Di Santo.

Rovers and Chelsea have agreed a deal that gives Sam Allardyce first option on taking him on loan for the second half of the season, if he was allowed, and the Ewood Park outfit were hopeful that would come to fruition.

The African Nations Cup was always going to complicate the situation come January but, expected to be strongly challenging for the title, Ancelotti was certain to strengthen his options in the transfer market - an avenue now seemingly taken away.

Failure to add to their squad would leave Chelsea with just Nicolas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge as their available strikers in January, leaving Di Santo’s return almost inevitable.

An early exit for Drogba and Kalou’s Ivory Coast would open the possibility of Di Santo coming back to Rovers after a brief January return, although extended stays in the competition for Chelsea’s stars, with the final of January 31, would see timing running out to extend the loan deal.