BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is weighing up a move for Israeli international Tal Ben Haim.

I can exclusively reveal that the Maccabi Tel Aviv skipper will be flying over to England for a trial with Rovers later this month when the Israeli league starts a winter break.

And if the 21-year-old makes enough of an impression then he could become a transfer target for Souness at the end of the season.

Haim has been recommended to Rovers by former Ewood favourite Eyal Berkovic.

He is currently rated as one of the top players in Israel but the powerful defender wants to play in Europe and he could be available for a cut-price fee in the summer.

Haim's current contract with Maccabi is due to run out when he completes his three years' national service with the Israeli army and he has recently rejected an offer of a new four year deal.

So if Rovers decided they wanted him then it would be left to FIFA to decide on a compensation figure.

Of course, any talk of a deal is somewhat premature at this stage as Souness has yet to see the player in the flesh.

But the Rovers boss is interested enough to want a closer look at him and he could well be in the market for a new centre-back with Craig Short in the final year of his contract.

"He's a player who has been recommended to us by Eyal Berkovic so he's going to come over for a trial later this month and we'll have a look at him," said Souness today.

"He's a young boy who plays at centre half but there's a world of difference between playing in the Israeli League and playing in the Premiership."

Meanwhile, young Rovers striker Paul Gallagher was given a boost last night when he was named in a Scotland future squad for next week's friendly with Turkey.

Manager Berti Vogts has already started preparing for Scotland's World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign and he will use the match at Dens Park on Wednesday as an opportunity to look at some of the nation's emerging talent.

Vogts said: "This match marks the first stage of our World Cup campaign, as it gives these players a chance to show what they can do.

"Our young players need international football experience, and for those players not involved in the Champions League or UEFA Cup, this is a great opportunity to get that experience."

Vogts was hugely impressed by Gallagher when he played for Scotland's Under 21s in a recent behind-closed-doors game against the full senior squad and he was also at Ewood when the 19-year-old impressed as a second half substitute against Everton.

Rovers skipper Garry Flitcroft is hoping to resume training tomorrow in a bid to prove his fitness in time for Saturday's game against Birmingham.

Flitcroft missed the 1-0 win over Tottenham with a groin injury.