BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is taking his players off to America next week - but the trip has nothing to do with the Premier League's controversial plans to play an international round' of matches abroad!

With Rovers facing a two-week break without a match following Monday's trip to Arsenal, due to their early exit from the FA Cup, Hughes has decided to whisk his squad off to Orlando for a mini training break in the sun, believing it will leave them refreshed and ready to mount a European charge during the run-in.

The Rovers chief, who has taken his players on similar mid-season breaks to places like Dubai in the past, is a firm believer in the old adage a change is as good as a rest'.

He said: "We do try to do it every year because we believe it does have a positive effect.

"It's a long old season so it can help if you can get away."

aneild@the-lt.co.uk