Hodgson delivers health warning to managers

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson insists Sam Allardyce's health problems should serve as a wake-up call to the rest of the managers in English football.

• Managers in England to have mobile health tests

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Roy Hodgson: Rewarded for the impressive job he has done at Craven Cottage.

Blackburn manager Allardyce will be absent from the dug-out when his team take on Fulham at Craven Cottage tonight because he is preparing to undergo surgery on a coronary artery on Friday.

Many other managers, including Graeme Souness, Gerard Houllier and Joe Kinnear, have also been affected by heart problems down the years, with football management viewed as one of the more life-consuming, high-pressure jobs around.

But Hodgson, who is a good friend of Allardyce's, believes manager's need to be as vigilant as the Blackburn boss when it comes to their health.

"What 'Big Sam' has done is a lesson to us all - he has had regular check-ups," Hodgson said. "This check-up has shown an abnormality or slight problem, which can easily be corrected. But if you don't have the check-up, you don't always get the warning signs.

"Quite a few people I know who have had very serious heart operations, they've had no warning signs. What this little episode has proven to us all is that it's Sam this week, it could be you next week.

"I know Sam is someone who looks after his fitness. But when you get up to our age, past 50, you have to be aware that changes are going to occur in your body.''

Allardyce was missing at the weekend when Rovers beat his former club Bolton 2-0 away to climb above Fulham into 11th place in the Premier League.

And Hodgson does not believe his rival manager's absence will have any bearing on tonight's result, with Fulham looking to get back to winning ways after a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham on Saturday.

"I don't think that in a couple of matches it matters if he's on the bench or not, having seen his influence and the work he has done with his coaching staff,'' the Cottagers boss added.

Hodgson will welcome back left-winger Damien Duff and right-back John Pantsil into his starting XI tonight.

Striker Andy Johnson and midfielder Danny Murphy could also be available again after being sidelined for more than a month with groin and knee injuries respectively.