SIMON Colosimo is hungry to join a big European club - and the young Aussie believes that Blackburn Rovers fit the bill, writes PETER WHITE.

The 19-year-old central defender, who also plays sweeper, is having trials at Brockhall with a view to a possible move from Australian National League side Carlton.

And the highly-rated youngster, captain of his country at under-20 level and a member of the under-23 Olympic team, likes what he has seen so far.

Any potential progress depends on what kind of impression Colosimo now makes on manager Roy Hodgson.

He fitted in well with a first team training session yesterday and is keen to do well.

"Every young player in Australia has ambitions to come to Britain, or somewhere else in central Europe. They all want to move on to a big club," he said.

"I have ambitions, I like the bigger clubs and I count Blackburn as that.

"I had said to myself that I would leave it until the end of the season and maybe until the end of next summer's under-20 World Cup.

"And I was probably going to leave it until after that. But when a bigger club comes along you have to try to take the chance.

"I like Roy Hodgson and from what I've seen I like the way he coaches."

Torino have shown an interest in Colosimo in the past. He has Italian parents and so can claim dual nationality to avoid work-permit problems. But, thanks to Hodgson's intervention and his contacts and those of Tony Parkes and Derek Fazackerley, Rovers now seem to be in the driving seat.

Colosimo cannot stay long as there are qualifiers coming up for the under-20 finals. But the player, clearly, would like to think he might be returning to Blackburn.

"I am under contract with my club but if a chance came along I am sure they would be willing to let me move on," he said.

"They wouldn't stand in the way of me bettering my career and going on to bigger things.

"A lot of players in Australia want to do that, play in the first team there and then move on overseas."

Colosimo will not be 20 until next January but he is already looking to the 2002 World Cup finals.

"I will still only be 22 then and I want to play in the World Cup," he said.

"If I am playing here it will enhance my chances of playing in the Australian national team.

"Now it is down to Roy Hodgson and the coaching staff here."

Ewood youngster David Dunn was in the England under-18 side which lost 3-0 to Croatia in Cyprus last night to crash out of the European Championships.

England were unlucky as they conceded a controversial penalty and then two late goals as they chased the game.

Dunn also played - and created the goal - in England's 1-0 win over the Reopublic of Ireland. They beat Cyprus 2-0 but finished third in the group, won by the Irish, on goal difference.

Continuing speculation that Aston Villa are about to launch a £4 million bid for Tim Flowers was shrugged off at Ewood today.

Chief executive John Williams said: "There has not been a formal bid but, in any case, Tim is not for sale so it is not an issue. I have spoken to Tim and he is very happy here.

"If someone wants a goalkeeper that's fine. But they're not having ours."

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