ROB Jones could be the next player in Brian Kidd's sights as he continues his rebuilding job at Ewood Park.

Jones is set to leave Liverpool where he has no place in Gerard Houllier's plans.

The England defender is wanted by West Ham but a late hitch over the transfer fee could alert Blackburn Rovers if they look to follow up their initial interest in the 27-year-old, who will be a free agent in the summer.

Kidd hasn't tabled a bid for the right-back, but he is a player the Rovers management are keeping tabs on.

"It's a name that's been mentioned, that's all. There has been no contact with the club," said Rovers chief executive John Williams.

Meanwhile, Jeff Kenna was forced to pull out of the Republic of Ireland squad for tonight's friendly against Paraguay in Dublin with an ankle injury he has been carrying for a while.

But, while that wrecked the chances of three Ewood stars playing together in the Irish team, it might yet turn out to be a bonus for Rovers.

For, although Kenna has missed out on the chance of another cap, the extra break - he was suspended last Saturday - will give him a good chance of getting over the injury in time for Sunday's FA Cup fifth round tie at Newcastle.

Rovers are optimistic that, with rest and treatment, Kenna will be ready to return against Ruud Gullit's side.

Keith Gillespie, who has missed the last two games with an ankle problem, should also be fit to go back to his former club for the televised clash.

Damien Duff and recent recruit Jason McAteer have both been named in manager Mick McCarthy's side, with some encouraging words from the Irish boss about the Rovers men.

And McAteer goes into the game against Paraguay with his international boss believing that the move to Ewood from Anfield could be the best thing that has happened to him from a career point of view.

McCarthy was the first person to call McAteer after the transfer, to pass on his congratulations.

He believes it was the "perfect" move for both player and country.

"I don't think he could have gone to a better club," said McCarthy.

"I have tremendous respect for Brian Kidd as a coach and as a man and I think he'll get the very best out of Jason. "Personally, I am delighted for the lad because we needed him to be playing first team football and Jason wanted that too."

"Not playing regularly in the first team was a concern for him and I am very pleased for that reason alone."

Like Kidd, McCarthy acknowledges McAteer's versatility as a great asset to a squad.

"I think his biggest strength is his adaptability, because he has played in a number of positions under me, including right wing-back and midfield," said McCarthy. Liverpool probably saw him as a box-to-box midfield player but, for various reasons, things perhaps didn't work out for him there as well as he would have liked.

"I think the lad fell between two stools a little bit and he ended up losing his slot.

"But I believe this is the perfect move for him.

"I saw Blackburn against Leeds and Brian has got them enjoying the game again.

"They look a lot more durable now and Jason has told me what a smashing fellow Brian is. He's got them going and they have had some terrific results."

Duff and Kenna are also valued assets as far as the Irish are concerned and McCarthy will send the young winger out against Paraguay believing he can produce something special.

He felt Duff's last game, against Yugoslavia in November, was his best performance at senior level so far.

And he added: "The lad is obviously a special talent. We have seen so much of him at under-18 and under-20 levels and he has come to the fore in the senior side in the past 12 months.

"He has always been great for me, as has Jeff who is always a steady operator."

Graham Coughlan was hoping to have a game with Wigan Reserves at Hull this afternoon.

As we revealed a couple of weeks ago, Wigan are one of several clubs checking on the central defender.

Wigan boss Ray Mathias said: "We are having a look at him because he has been made available by Blackburn."

Coughlan joined Rovers in October, 1995, from Bray Wanderers for £100,000 but, while he has not made it to first-team level at Ewood, there is no shortage of interest in his services.

Reports from Scotland today suggest Rovers are watching highly-rated St Mirren youngsters Hugh Murray and Martin O'Brien.

Midfielder Murray is a Scottish under-21 international, while 17-year-old O'Brien has burst onto the scene this season and is also thought to be interesting Manchester United.

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