NEW Blackburn Rovers midfielder Jay Spearing goes straight into Gary Bowyer’s side for today’s Championship clash at home to Fulham.

Spearing, who yesterday joined on loan from Bolton Wanderers until the end of the season, is one of three changes Rovers boss Bowyer has made to the side that started the midweek defeat at Derby County.

Jordan Rhodes and Chris Brown have been recalled and will start up front.

Alex Baptiste, who turns 29 today, and Tom Cairney, who came off injured against Derby along with captain Grant Hanley and Rudy Gestede, drop to the bench while Josh King is ruled out with a back knock.

Gestede and David Dunn are also sidelined.

But Tommy Spurr makes the 18-man squad for the first time this season after recovering from double groin surgery.

In-form Fulham, who will move above Rovers with victory, have made four changes to the side that started their FA Cup fourth-round draw at Sunderland last Saturday.

New signing Jazz Richards, Scott Parker, Ross McCormack and Hugo Rodallega are in.

Fulham’s line-up includes Ryan Tunnicliffe, the midfielder who spent the first half of the season on loan at Rovers.

Rovers: Steele, Lowe, Hanley, Kilgallon, Olsson, Marshall, Spearing, Evans, Conway, Rhodes, Brown. Subs: Eastwood, Baptiste, Duffy, Spurr, Taylor, Cairney, Varney.

Fulham: Bettinelli, Richards, Hutchinson, Bodurov, Stafylidis, Parker, Tunnicliffe, Christensen, McCormack, Rodallega, Woodrow. Subs: Kiraly, Burn, Grimmer, Fofana, Kacaniklic, Roberts, Dembele.