BRIAN Kidd laid it on the line to his mid-table squad today - the time has come to do the business.

The Blackburn Rovers boss prepared his players for this afternoon's return to League action against Grimsby Town at Ewood by spelling out the challenge in no uncertain terms.

Rovers have taken only one point from their last two League matches, both away, and stand a modest 12th in the First Division table.

But Kidd is clearly not afraid to invite pressure onto himself or his squad with his demands of them.

For he firmly believes everything is now in place for the club to make a concerted push up the table.

And he expects the players to rise to the challenge, as they have everything going for them.

Kidd's convictions are strengthened by the fact that Jason McAteer has now resumed training after missing out on the chance of a long-awaited senior return because of tonsilitis.

Steve Harkness is also close to a comeback after recovering from an ankle injury.

And, while he is still without a couple of long-term absentees plus Keith Gillespie (ankle) and Marlon Broomes, who faces an ankle operation, the manager has plenty of competition for places all over the field.

He didn't mince words when he said: "The time has come.

"Now we have to start doing it.

"I think we are in good shape. "There's a well-balanced squad with quality. I am pleased with all the players and the effort they have put in on the training pitch and they know the staff.

"Everything has settled down and now is the time we have to go on and prove it."

He made a number of changes for the Worthington Cup tie at Leeds in midweek, involving a lot of young players.

But it is against the likes of this afternoon's opponents Grimsby that Rovers need to show they have what it takes for promotion.

"Collectively they did well at Leeds but that is only what I am expecting," he said.

"We are looking to build and develop that.

"They have all settled down and now is the time to earn things, which we have to do.

"For me it's a pointer to where we are going when we can put a team out like that against the Premier League leaders and they did okay.

"Young Leam (Richardson) made his debut and we'll never be afraid of throwing kids in. I thought he had a smashing debut.

"We now have players who can come in and do a job. That's where it has changed.

"I wouldn't swap any of my lads for players in other squads. I look about me now and I see a well-balanced decent squad."

Even though he has told his players the bottom line, however, Kidd does not susbscribe to the view that Rovers only have to turn up to beat First Division teams.

And it concerns him that some people do feel like that. "People have this attitude that we should just be able to go out onto the pitch and not think about the opposition," he said.

"They think that because we have come out of the Premiership we can put any old team out and it won't matter.

"Well you don't go about it like that. I certainly won't.

"We have to be responsible how we go about things."

The build-up to next month's England-Scotland play-off clash has already begun.

Brian Kidd, who rested Christian Dailly and Callum Davidson in midweek after they had been involved in two internationals inside four days, had a warning for his two Scots.

"If I'd known they were going to be playing England, I would have played them. They won't be getting any rest now, I'll tire them out. They'll be doing extra running as well!"

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