BLACKBURN Rovers boss Graeme Souness faces a new obstacle in his bid to land Liverpool keeper Brad Friedel.

German club Energie Cottbus expect the American to arrive for a trial next week.

The Bundesliga's bottom club have conceded 17 goals in seven matches and manager Klaus Stabach said the 29-year-old American international could help solve his side's problems.

"We expect Friedel next week," he said. "He comes without a fee."

Although Rovers currently have three senior keepers in John Filan, Alan Kelly and Alan Miller, Souness has been an ardent admirer of the keeper, who arrived at Anfield from Columbus Crew in 1997 for £1m.

That would mean Souness would need to offload one and probably two of his current staff if Friedel became a Blackburn player.

And any such move would be bound to be plagued by work permit problems.

Friedel is unavailable for Liverpool because the Department of Employment refuse to grant him a work permit, claiming he has not played enough first team games for the Premiership side.

Their attitude, however, might differ should an application be made to join a First Division outfit such as Rovers, if Friedel's German move does not prove lasting.

Meanwhile, captain David Dunn was unfortunate not to kick off his England under 21 Euro 2002 campaign with a victory against Germany at Pride Park.

England were held to a draw after German skipper Fabian Ernst equalised three minutes from time to cancel out Ipswich defender Titus Bramble's header in first-half injury-time. But Dunn could point to two incidents which had a significant factor in wrestling control away from his inexperienced side at crucial times of the game.

First Leeds striker Alan Smith sent in a 25th-minute header from an Ashley Cole corner which was at least a clear foot over the line before Tobias Willi hooked the ball back into play via the underside of the bar.

Then to add salt into England's wounds he harshly sent off Liverpool defender Stephen Wright for a 65th-minute challenge on substitute Bernd Korzynietz.

In the other under 21 games James Thomas was unable to get on the scoresheet as Wales went down 2-0 to a Norway side featuring former Ewood trialist John Carew, now a £6m Valencia star.

And Gary Hamilton also drew a blank as Northern Ireland lost 3-0 at home to Denmark.

In the Nationwide Division One, Bolton boss Sam Allardyce was philosophical after Iffy Onuora's last-minute strike had given Gillingham a 2-2 draw.

He said: "I've got no complaints about our performance, but I'm still very disappointed to be going away with only a point from a game that we dominated for 70 minutes."

Dean Holdsworth set up Bolton's opener when Bo Hansen knocked in a low, angled drive past Gills keeper Vince Bartram.

Bolton made it 2-0 on the half-hour when defender John O'Kane saw Bartram off his line and his chip from fully 40 yards hit the angle of post and bar before bouncing down with the assistant referee signalling the ball had crossed the line.

The home side pulled a goal back after 75 minutes through skipper Paul Smith then Onoura's goal sent the Priestfield faithful home happy.