Blackburn boss on Spanish scouting mission

1:00pm Saturday 10th May 2008

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MARK Hughes has already begun planning for next term - even though Rovers face a crucial end-of-season showdown with Bir-mingham City tomorrow.

The Rovers boss flew to Spain on a special scouting mission earlier this week and took in the game between Espanyol and Atletico Madrid as part of the trip.

And although the Rovers boss insisted he wasn't there to watch a specific target, he did reveal he made a number of contacts that could give him the edge in the transfer market later in the summer.

"It was a decent enough game but no more than that," said Hughes.

"They were two decent quality sides and it was just interesting to get a feel of what's happening over there.

"I was able to speak to a number of people about a number of players over there who might become available, and their situations.

"So it was a good exercise in terms of being able to meet people who might be able to point us in the right direction."

Hughes has already made it clear he plans to freshen up his squad with a number of new faces this summer and, by all accounts, that work has already started.

"We have already started the process but, in fairness, it probably never ends," he added.

"But it's early days yet."