BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has hailed Andy Todd's role in Rovers' revival as they prepare to face Birmingham at St Andrews tomorrow.

The former Bolton and Charlton defender has been outstanding since he returned from a loan spell with Burnley two months ago.

And Souness says the 29-year-old's name is now one of the first to go on his team-sheet as he looks to steer Rovers away from trouble at the bottom of the Premiership.

"Andy Todd's been a little unlucky during his time with us," said Souness.

"He got himself in the team last season but then got sent off against Birmingham for kicking out at Christophe Dugarry and he never really got a look in after that.

"Then with us signing Lorenzo Amoruso and Markus Babbel in the summer, we felt that we could let him go which is why he joined Burnley.

"But we then got injuries and had to bring him back and he's been outstanding for us ever since.

"There's not a week goes by without Stan Ternent ringing me up to ask if he can have him back.

"But he's in our team now and I'm not going to take the shirt away from him as long as he keeps doing the business for me.

"He's probably my first choice centre half at this moment in time."

Rovers kept their first clean sheet of the season against Spurs last weekend thanks to inspired defensive displays from Todd and Craig Short.