BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness will broaden his search for extra defensive resources after failing in an attempt to land Aston Villa's World Cup star Alpay.

Souness recently made contact with the Midlands club about a possible swap deal for the Turkish international with a view to offering John Curtis in part exchange.

However, Villa boss Graham Taylor knocked back the enquiry and Souness will now focus his search elsewhere with a loan signing the most likely solution in the short-term at least.

"We made an enquiry for Alpay and we were looking at a swap deal but we were told that wasn't a possibility," said Souness.

Souness was already on the look-out for a new defender, with the recruitment of a left-back at the top of his shopping list long before Henning Berg and Craig Short were struck down by injuries.

But, after hearing yesterday that Short could now be missing for anything up to four weeks following a scan on his hamstring, that search may now be intensified as the Premiership transfer window opens in earnest as from tomorrow.

Souness and chief scout Terry Darracott have scoured Europe in their search for a solution to the left-back situation but financial constraints have so far prevented the manager from closing in on some of the targets he has identified.

He was recently offered Celta Vigo left-back Garcia Juanfran but the terms being quoted for the Spanish international were out of Rovers' price-range. And a move for highly-rated Argentine Gabriel Milito, the Independiente defender Souness has admitted an interest in, also looks unlikely because the Ewood chief has been told he has to sell before he can buy. Therefore, a loan move looks the most likely option with the cash situation a key factor in any potential deal.

Meanwhile, Rovers are still reeling from the news that winger Damien Duff could join Short on the sidelines for up to four weeks after scans showed both players have suffered hamstring damage. They could now miss both legs of the Worthington Cup semi-final with Manchester United.

But Souness and the rest of the squad must put the disappointment of losing Short and Duff to one side when Middlesbrough are the visitors to Ewood tomorrow.

"We must have looked at every decent left-back there is but most of the ones we like are out of our price-range," added Souness.

"It's a nightmare, to be quite honest, and it's turned out to be a bad Christmas for us," said Souness.

"Damien's not been able to achieve any consistency at all because of all the injuries he's suffered since the World Cup and that's very disappointing."

"The way we played on Saturday means tomorrow's game can't come soon enough," said Souness.

"I was disappointed about what happened against West Ham, the players were disappointed and I know the supporters were, too.

"But the only excuse I can offer is the players were tired.

"I know I've got an honest group of players here and I know they gave it everything but it just wasn't enough on the day so we've got to address that tomorrow."

Boro might be currently riding high in 10th position but their record away from the Riverside has been dreadful so far this season.

Saturday's reverse at Aston Villa was their sixth successive away defeat and they've only won once on their travels all season which came in the form of a 3-0 victory at Spurs in September.

The root of their problems would appear to lie in front of goal as they've only scored four times in 10 away games and three of those came at White Hart Lane.

Souness insists, however, it's dangerous to read too much into those statistics.

"I expect them to come to our place and be very difficult to break down so we've got to show more invention and sharpness than we did against West Ham if we want to win it," added Souness.

Lucas Neill returns after suspension and David Dunn could also be named in the squad after missing the last two games with a calf strain.

Rovers are expected to choose from: Friedel, Neill, Curtis, Johansson, Taylor, Flitcroft, Tugay, Thompson, Gillespie, Cole, Yorke, Ostenstad, Dunn, Jansen, Danns, Todd, McEveley, Kelly.

* As we reported in later editions yesterday, Rovers have agreed to extend Craig Hignett's loan move to Coventry by another month.

Rovers (from): Friedel, Neill, Curtis, Johansson, Taylor, Flitcroft, Tugay, Thompson, Gillespie, Cole, Yorke, Ostenstad, Dunn, Jansen, Danns, Todd, McEveley, Kelly.