ROY Hodgson was waiting anxiously in France this afternoon to see if his devastated striking options for tonight's UEFA Cup second leg tie against Olympique Lyonnais would be given a last-minute boost.

Emergency plans had been drawn up for either Martin Dahlin or Kevin Gallacher -- or both -- to fly to Lyon this afternoon if there was any chance at all of them making enough progress from their injuries to start tonight's game.

Before going training with the squad he has brought to France -- minus all four senior strikers -- Hodgson said there had not been any further developments.

The manager revealed after last night's training session in pouring rain that the two players had been having intensive treatment at Brockhall in a bid to cure their calf problems.

And he said if there was any chance they would fly out this afternoon.

He had to face the prospect, however, that neither would make it and, if not, it would be a remarkable piece of ill fortune.

"When a club has four strikers of the quality of Sutton, Gallacher, Davies and Dahlin and might not be able to use one of them it's a bizarre situation," said Hodgson.

The manager has been examining all his options and last season's youth team players David Dunn and Martin Taylor, a central defender who could even be used as a makeshift striker, will be in the frame.

If there are no late additions to the squad Hodgson will have to come up with a tactical ploy to give them a chance of winning the game. Rovers trail 1-0 from the first leg at Ewood and have been given little chance of overturning the tie, particularly in view of the club's European record.

In nine previous European encounters -- in the UEFA Cup and the Champions' League -- they have managed just one victory.

Hodgson is clearly prepared for the worst scenario on the personnel front.

"We have contingency plans and there are lots of options," said the manager.

"We will have 11 competitive players wearing the Blackburn shirt with pride and trying to do their best to overturn an unfortunate first leg defeat.

"Obviously we face uphill task but lots of other teams will also be facing such a task."

Chris Sutton and Kevin Davies were not even under consideration for tonight.

Davies, however, has been released from hospital where he has been suffering from a severe throat infection.

He will see a specialist next Monday for a check up and could even start training after that.

"Hopefully he will not be out as long as we first feared" said Hodgson.

Sutton's situation is more complex. The exact nature of the injury which is causing him ankle pain has not yet been diagnosed.

Scans have been taken but until the problem can be pinpointed it is impossible to say how long he will be out.

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