Defender comes in from the cold

The 30-year-old stopper hasn't figured in the Rovers first team since he fell out with Graeme Souness prior to a game against Leeds United five months ago.

But Hughes is ready to give the former Charlton and Bolton defender a fresh chance to prove himself in the first team.

And Todd could well make his comeback in the next few weeks, once he's made a full recovery from a knee operation.

"I'm in a position where I can't afford to completely dismiss anybody, so the likes of Toddy will get a chance to show me what he can do," said Hughes.

Todd was one of the few successes of last season and he scooped the club's player of the year award for some consistent defensive displays.

But then a fall-out with Souness in April led to him being axed from the first team and he hasn't featured at that level since.

However, the appointment of a new manager means a fresh start for everyone and with Rovers continuing to leak goals at the back, a recall for Todd is on the cards.

The versatile defender underwent surgery recently to clean out his knee and Hughes is hoping he'll be back in contention again shortly.

"As far as I'm aware, he's about two to three weeks off making a return," said the Rovers boss.

In the meantime, Hughes is keeping his fingers crossed that several more of his defenders will shake off various aches and pains ahead of Monday night's game at Charlton.

Lorenzo Amoruso and Nissa Johansson both picked up injuries during Wednesday night's ill-fated Carling Cup tie with Bournemouth.

And with Craig Short already side-lined for three weeks by a knee injury, Hughes needs at least one of them available to partner Dominic Matteo against the Addicks.

"We've got one or two injuries at the back. Lorenzo is struggling a little bit with an injury that is hampering him and Nissa has one or two bumps and bruises," said Hughes.

"But we have got options and we can move people around if necessary."

There was one positive piece of news from the treatment, however.

David Thompson, who has missed the last three games with an ankle injury, is said to be making decent progress and Hughes anticipates him being available again soon.

"Hopefully, we'll get him back in the next week or so. That's the hope anyway.

"He's been training with the fitness guys and he's been doing some good sessions so he looks in good nick.

"We just need to get him back now."

Meanwhile, Hughes has admitted he was slightly concerned by his side's general lack of fitness in the game against Bournemouth.

Several players who had previously been on the periphery of the first team were drafted in and their lack of match action showed in extra time.

"That was something that struck me the other night but there's reason behind that," added Hughes.

"A number of players hadn't had a great deal of football leading up to the game and they were a little bit down on where I expected them to be.

"But those are things that we can address very, very quickly."