ANDY COLE and Graeme Souness were involved in a training ground bust-up yesterday.

And it ended in the Blackburn Rovers striker storming off, jumping in his car and returning to his Cheshire home.

Cole looked likely to be axed from the starting line-up as Rovers were due to face champions Arsenal today.

The bust-up happened on the training ground at Brockhall during a full-scale practice match.

Cole was said to be unhappy about a pass given to him, but Souness did not like his attitude.

The pair had a heated exchange and Cole was ordered to the dressing room by his manager.

Cole was so incensed, he jumped straight in his car and drove home, without another word to his boss.

Hakan Sukur and Dwight Yorke were expected to start in attack today.

Meanwhile, Souness today revealed he wants to sign Vratislav Gresko on a permanent deal in the summer.

Souness and his backroom staff have been hugely impressed with the Slovakian international on and off the pitch since he arrived at Ewood on loan from Parma.

And the Rovers boss believes he could now have found a permanent solution to his problems at left-back following a worldwide search which has taken two years.

"I think he's the answer," said Souness.

"He hasn't played a great deal of football this year and it can sometimes take half a dozen games for some people to get up to speed the way the Premier League is.

"But he's a naturally fit boy and a ridiculous trainer and we've all been really impressed with him so far.

"He's a good defender and when he does get his full fitness I think you'll see more of him going forward."

Souness's hopes of signing a player who once cost Inter Milan £10 million could well hinge on his ability to finance a deal, however.

Even in the current transfer market, Parma would look for a sizable sum if they decided to let him go.

And Rovers would also have to match his wage demands which are likely to be substantial given his Serie A background.

But Souness believes an agreement could still be reached if the idea of a move appealed to both parties.

"The world of football is changing and not just here but in Italy as well," said Souness, whose need for an experienced left-back was further underlined by the retirement of Stig Bjornebye earlier this week.

"So we'll see what happens but we've all been impressed by him."

In the meantime, Souness has also indicated that he would like to keep Hakan Sukur, too.

So far, the Turkish World Cup star has only made one appearance as a substitute since signing a short-term deal until the end of the season.

But Souness knows enough about the player from his time as manager of Galatasaray to realise that he would be a big asset next season.

"We are quite confident, given the relationship I have with Hakan, that we can keep him here so we'll have to see," said Souness.

But Keith Gillespie's future at Ewood still looks less certain.