BLACKBURN Rovers duo Steven Reid and Andy Todd are ready to give Mark Hughes a timely boost by making their long-awaited comebacks from injury next week.
Assistant boss Mark Bowen today confirmed the pair have been lined up for a run-out in Tuesday night's reserve game against Leeds United at Christie Park.
And depending on how they come through that, they may even be in with an outside chance of featuring in Rovers' Premiership game with Middlesbrough a week tomorrow.
"It depends on how they react to training over the next few days but Andy Todd and Steven Reid should play against Leeds on Tuesday night and there's a chance that David Thompson could be involved as well," said Bowen.
"They've both come through four training sessions this week and they've improved everyday so it's now a case of seeing if there's any reaction to that."
Todd has been sidelined for over a month after undergoing a clean-up operation on his knee while Reid has missed two months as a result of a broken bone in his foot.
It's six months since either man started a first team game for Rovers but their imminent return is good news for Hughes, who wants as much competition as possible for places in his starting eleven.
Meanwhile, Rovers skipper Barry Ferguson has hit back at reports linking him with a move to Rangers by insisting he's happy at Blackburn.
Stories emanating from Scotland earlier this week claimed Ferguson has been lined up for a possible return to Ibrox if super-fan Alistair Donald provides Alex McLeish with a £10 million transfer war-chest.
But the former Gers midfielder has slammed those suggestions and dismissed talk that his family are homesick in England.
"It's news to me," said the 26-year-old. "I am flattered to be linked with Rangers - I think the world of the place and I'll never hide that.
"I've always said I'm down at Blackburn playing in a league I have always wanted to play in. I haven't pondered going back.
"People know I come home a lot to see my family and they suggest I'm homesick, but it's nonsense. I am settled at Blackburn, as are my wife and kids.
"So, I am happy. And I am really enjoying it with the new manager. He is really quiet, but the two coaches he has brought in are excellent, so training is really good."
It's not the first time that Ferguson has been linked with a return to his former club and the Scotland captain has now grown used to the rumours surrounding his future.
"It is not unsettling. I am used to it," he explained. "This guy (Alistair Donald) has come in and he wants to put money into Rangers, and obviously my name is the first that comes up.
"It seems to come up all of the time.
"At one stage in my life I do want to work at Rangers again. But the truth is, I don't know whether that will be next year, or in 10 years' time doing the hospitality, who knows?
"Until it is concrete, or whatever, I can't even think about that. I can only think about Blackburn.
"I am still captain and playing every game, so I am happy."
In the meantime, Watford's Kevin Hitchcock is on the verge of becoming Mark Hughes's new goalkeeping coach.
Roy Tunks quit Rovers earlier this week to take up a similar post at Newcastle and Hughes has now targeted Hitchcock as the man to replace him.
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