COLIN Hendry will probably miss Blackburn Rovers' busy pre-season tour to Scandinavia, writes TONY DEWHURST.

But the Scotland defender, who pledged his long term future to Ewood Park last week, looks certain to be ready for the Premiership pipe opener against Derby County.

Rovers say Hendry is making "outstanding progress" following hernia surgery last month and an operation which forced the giant defender out of Scotland's World Cup qualifying fixture in Belarus.

But Rovers are satisfied he will be back wearing the number five jersey in time for the big kick-off on August 9.

Caretaker manager Tony Parkes confirmed: "Colin is working to a tight fitness schedule and he is doing extremely well.

"We must be careful not to rush him back because he needs to be 100 per cent right.

"The last thing we want is for the injury to be aggravated and Colin to miss any league games

"I don't think he will play any of the pre-season fixtures in Scandinavia but we are pretty confident that Colin will be ready for the start of the Premiership season."

Hendry got the all-clear from his London specialist last week in a short visit home between holidays in St Lucia and the South of France.

Meanwhile, Parkes has expressed surprise that he has had no definite enquiries for any of the fringe first team squad members who could be available for transfer.

West Bromwich Albion, managed by ex-Rovers boss Ray Harford, are the only club to have contacted Parkes in what is proving an exceptionally quiet summer to date.

Winger Stuart Ripley and forward Graham Fenton have both been linked with a move to the Hawthorns.

But Parkes added: "There is nothing doing on any players leaving the club. We had enquiries from Ray about Stuart but that was a long time ago, when the season was still on.

"I find the lack of transfer interest very surprising to be honest, particularly when there is a new manager coming in and there is expected to be a reasonable turnover of staff.

"But transfer activity will begin to warm up again in the next couple of weeks when players and managers return from holiday.

"Then I think things could change here and there could be some positive movement."

With new manager Roy Hodgson due to arrive at Ewood Park on July 1, and with several big continental names already linked with Blackburn, it seems fair to presume that there will be several players going through the exit door.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.