RAY Harford faces a major midfield dilemma for tomorrow's game at QPR - and, for once, it's not caused by an injury crisis.

In contrast, the Blackburn Rovers boss has people queuing up to play and that could mean crunch time for Tim Sherwood or David Batty.

The recovery of Batty, Paul Warhurst and Lars Bohinen means, effectively, that Harford has five players available - including Sherwood and Billy McKinlay - for just two central midfield roles.

That is supposing the manager sticks with Kevin Gallacher wide on the left and, given the balance he offers the side, it would be a surprise if the Scot was omitted.

Bohinen, a victim of food poisoning last weekend, can also expect to return to take one of the two main midfield positions.

So either Batty or Sherwood faces the prospect of standing down.

The alternative for Harford, as his team chase a first away win in the Premiership this season, is to dispense with the natural wide man on the left. But Gallacher looked comfortable there on his return at Ipswich and it's difficult to see Rovers changing it.

They have struggled for so long to cover for Jason Wilcox's absence they seem unlikely to abandon it now they look to have an answer in Gallacher.

There is one other possibility and that's to play with five midfield men and a lone striker in Alan Shearer.

But I doubt that would happen, especially following Harford's praise for Shearer's

current partner Mike Newell this week.

While it is a problem, it's a better one to have than scratching around for players as at Ipswich last weekend.

With fierce competition for places, Harford will expect Rovers to continue their recent good run and he said: "I didn't anticipate eight injuries (at Ipswich) but when they are fit you wouldn't see any reason why we can't climb the table.

"I think we have come through the championship hangover and I think we have got back to being hard to beat as a team.

"It's a pity we didn't have this group available for the European games and if we had the others fit too we would look really strong."

Apart from the long-term absentees, Chris Sutton is likely to be the only player not in contention at Loftus Road tomorrow.

Rovers' starting line-up is expected to come from: Flowers, Berg, Hendry, Coleman, Kenna, Ripley, Sherwood, McKinlay, Gallacher, Shearer, Newell, Bohinen, Batty, Warhurst.

QPR are battling against relegation but had a morale-boosting FA Cup win at Tranmere last week.

They have some problems, however, with key midfield man Simon Barker absent through suspension.

Player-manager Ray Wilkins could turn out again and Rangers are expected to choose from: Sommer, Ready, Challis, McDonald, Yates, Impey, Wilkins, Quashie, Brazier, Allen, Sinclair, Maddix, Dichio, Bardsley.

Ex-Rovers player Barker, who has just recovered from flu, said: "We need the points more than Blackburn. I just hope they aren't going to end their run (without an away win) against us."

Millwall's capture of Spartak Moscow duo Vasili Kulkov and Sergei Yuran may encourage Harford to revive his interest in a couple of other Russian stars. Harford admitted he was surprised Spartak were starting to break up their side before the European Cup quarter finals and he said: "I knew about Yuran but not Kulkov." The Rovers boss had already admitted his admiration for some of the Spartak players, notably Ilia Tsimbalar and Yuri Nikiforov and added: "I like both of them."

Meanwhile, he seemed to play down any interest in Aberdeen's transfer-listed star Eoin Jess.

"We are always on the lookout for good players and he's a very good player," he said. Then Harford added: "He's a central midfield player" - and Rovers have a glut of those.

But full back Gary Smith, another player they have been linked with, could also be on his way from Pittodrie.

Inter Milan are unlikely to make much progress should they decide to step up any interest in Alan Shearer.

As we reported in our later editions last night, Inter are looking for a striker and their president mentioned Shearer's name as a possible target.

But there has been no contact at Ewood and it would be discouraged.

Shearer himself said: "It's very flattering to be linked with such a big club but I signed a three-year extension to my contract last summer and I am just concentrating on helping Blackburn to try to win the FA Cup and climb the League."

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