ROVERS defender Stig Inge Bjornebye will be fit to kick-off Blackburn's pre-season programme as he bids to hold off the increased competition for his left-back role.

The Norwegian international missed the final four games of Rovers' promotion triumph with a knee injury.

However, he has spent the early part of the summer working his way to full fitness and was given the all-clear to head off on holiday having received a clean bill of health from the club's medical staff.

Assistant manager Tony Parkes confirmed: "Stig will be fit and ready to train. More or less everyone who is injured has to stay here and get fit before they can leave the club for the summer.

"The only one still injured is Jonathan Douglas, who had a knee operation towards the end of the season. Everybody else will be ready to train on July 9."

Bjornebye's return to fitness will be a boost for Rovers boss Graeme Souness and will also give the former Liverpool defender the chance to reclaim his first-team shirt.

Souness has made no secret of the fact that he is keen to strengthen the left side of his defence and, even with Bjornebye back in his plans, is still likely to add to his options in that department and the Rovers chief has been linked with moves for Everton's Michael Ball, Sunderland skipper Michael Gray and Birmingham City's Martin Grainger.

However, Liverpool's French defender Djimi Traore may be a more realistic target.

Souness is thought to be a long-standing admirer of the 21-year-old, who can play as a central defender or at left-back.

Liverpool were reluctant to let the player go out even on loan last season but, having last week signed Norwegian John Arne Riise, Traore has slipped a further notch down the pecking order and a suitable bid from Souness may now be well received at Anfield.

On the out-going front at Rovers striker Nathan Blake has been linked with a possible move to Derby County.

Blake would be available for the right price this summer following the arrival at Ewood of Corrado Grabbi.

However, Derby's first target is Italian front man Fabrizio Ravanelli and sources in Derby suggest that, even if they fail to land the former Middlesbrough goalscorer, Blake may not be seen as an alternative.

Meanwhile, former Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson is set to complete his move to take over at Serie A side Udinese with Bryan Robson and Terry Fenwick touted as his possible replacement at FC Copenhagen, who have just won the Danish title.