BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer is ready to throw top scorer Jordan Rhodes straight back into his starting line-up for tomorrow’s Championship clash with Reading.

And Rhodes, who suffered an injury scare while away with Scotland, could yet be Rovers’ only available striker with Bowyer not confirming whether Leon Best will be considered for selection following his latest social media misdemeanour.

Comments that Best made to a supporter on Instagram this week are being investigated by the club.

Bowyer said: “We’ve been made aware of it, the club is dealing with it internally, and when we have an announcement to make it will be made public.”

When asked if Best is in contention for the visit of the Royals to Ewood Park, Bowyer said: “We’ll have to see how this situation goes.”

Best was dropped for the trips to Burnley and Leicester City in September after previous remarks he made on social networking site Instagram.

Should Bowyer decline to select the Republic of Ireland international tomorrow he will be shorn of options up front.

DJ Campbell is serving the final match of his suspension while the returning Ruben Rochina is not fit enough to start – meaning that Rhodes could play just 10 days after pulling out of the Scotland squad.

The 10-goal forward feared he had broken his ankle on international duty but scans showed the injury was not serious.

And if the Rovers’ medical team give the thumbs up, Bowyer will name Rhodes in his team to take on Reading.

“Obviously when your players go away on international duty you’re always sitting by the phone,” said Bowyer, who saw Rhodes break his hand the previous time he was training with Scotland.

“He’s done it to me twice now, panicking me, but we’ve got him back, had it scanned and the medical team have been brilliant with him.”

Rochina, meanwhile, has not played since dislocating his shoulder on the opening day of the campaign, although he did come through an 11-a-side training game on Tuesday unscathed.

But Bowyer confirmed the Spaniard was not fit to start against the Royals – although he could be named on the bench.

The Rovers chief added: “We had a sit down and Ruben was quite sensible in the fact that he doesn’t feel he is ready to start yet.

“He will need some games and it’s up to us to provide them between first team games.”

Bowyer is still attempting to bring in a target man before tomorrow’s match – or if not before the loan window closes on Thursday.

He said: “We are working very, very hard on it – and we have been doing for a couple of weeks.

“It’s important not to panic and bring the wrong person in – someone who doesn’t fit into the model that we’re trying to achieve. If that takes longer then so be it.

“But we are aware the window closes on Thursday.”