FORMER Cardiff City striker Nicky Maynard will start for Blackburn Rovers in their final pre-season friendly of the summer at home to Wigan Athletic today (3pm) – alongside Jordan Rhodes.

Maynard, who once had a loan spell at Wigan, is looking for a new club after leaving Cardiff at the end of last season.

The 28-year-old recently had a spell on trial at Rovers’ Championship rivals Nottingham Forest.

Maynard will be joined up front by the fit-again Rhodes.

The 25-year-old has not featured since injuring his ankle in the pre-season opener at Accrington Stanley.

Since then Rhodes has saw a £12m move to Middlesbrough blocked by Rovers’ owners Venky’s.

Rovers’ squad also includes trialists Danny Guthrie, who starts, and Nathan Delfouneso, who is on the bench.

Also named among the substitutes are new signings Sacha Petshi and Fode Koita.

Darragh Lenihan (back), Chris Taylor (groin), Corry Evans (leg) and Chris Brown (knee) are injured while Simon Eastwood and Lee Williamson are also not in the Rovers squad.

Rovers: Raya, Henley, Hanley, Duffy, Olsson, Conway, Lowe, Guthrie, Marshall, Rhodes, Maynard. Subs: Steele, Spurr, Nyambe, Delfouneso, Tomlinson, Kilgallon, Koita, O'Sullivan, Forrester, Petshi.