ISRAELI international Eyal Berkovic is often singled out as the man opposition fans simply love to hate.

But the explosive midfielder can at least be sure of a hero's welcome in Blackburn tonight when he runs out at Ewood in the colours of Manchester City.

Berkovic played a leading role in Rovers' march to promotion last season after joining the club on loan from Scottish giants Celtic.

And assistant boss Tony Parkes is in no doubt the Blackburn End will show their appreciation for those efforts this evening -- even though he poses the biggest threat to Rovers' hopes of Worthington Cup glory.

"Eyal did a marvellous job for Blackburn," recalls Parkes.

"He won us vital points at an important time in the season and I'm sure the crowd will welcome him back with open arms tonight.

"He was very, very talented and could change a game with a flash of skill.

"He's a different player to many others in the league in terms of the fact he can pick the ball up, make passes, and he's still got that bit of pace to get past people to make those passes, which is different to playing in front of people and making them from there.

"I still think he could be playing at a higher level but it depends who else you've got at your club as well.

"With a player like Eyal you need other players in your team to compensate for him at times.

"But I think he's still got the ability to do a job in the Premiership."

When Kevin Keegan took over at Maine Road in the summer, it came as little surprise when he then swooped for playmaker Berkovic.

During his time in charge of Newcastle, Fulham and England, Keegan earned himself a reputation as the undisputed king of entertainment.

And few players are more entertaining on their day than the former West Ham star in full flight.

Inspired by his midfield partnership with Algerian international Ali Benarbia, the Blues have racked up a stunning total of 45 goals in just 19 league games so far.

And they cruised into the fourth round of the Worthington Cup on the back of a thumping 6-0 win over Birmingham City last month.

The main beneficiary of the midfield duo's silver service has been striker Shaun Goater who already has 20 goals to his name.

But, with the Bermudian missing tonight through injury, Benarbia has called on the rest of the team to take more responsibility in the final third.

"We rely too much on Shaun Goater and the strikers to get goals -- the midfield should be contributing more," said the former Paris St Germain star, who has scored five in his short City career so far.

"The strikers do not always get a lot of space so the onus is on the midfield to have a go.

"That is what happened against Rotherham on Saturday. They scored the first goal and then got men behind the ball.

"So every player must try and score -- not just the strikers."

For all City's flair going forward, however, they still have a tendency to leak goals at the back -- a problem which has blighted Keegan's teams throughout his managerial career.

And a City back four, which is likely to feature former Rovers target Lucien Mettomo, will again come under the spotlight tonight against England wannabes Matt Jansen and David Dunn.

One man relishing that challenge more than most, though, is England legend Stuart Pearce.

The former Nottingham Forest fullback is the defensive rock on which Keegan hopes to build a First Division promotion challenge.