DENMARK'S top marksman Ebbe Sand has come under Blackburn Rovers' scrutiny in their Eurowide search for new talent.

But Rovers boss Roy Hodgson may be looking for more experienced players than the young Brondby striker, who has yet to make his mark at international level.

Reports from Denmark say Rovers have watched Sand twice and he is regarded as a very-promising prospect.

But the days when English clubs could swoop on Scandinavia and pick up potential stars for next to nothing have gone. And Scandinavian contacts tell me that Brondby would slap a huge transfer fee on Sand's head if they were to part with him.

That could run to a few million pounds but, of course, the price would inevitably rise again if he was to make their World Cup squad and do well in France this summer.

Sand has already topped 20 goals in Denmark this season, including a couple of hat-tricks, he is strong and quick and has helped Brondby establish a stranglehold on the championship race. He has also been called up for the national squad, for their warm-up match against Norway.

If he is given a chance and adjusts to the international stage then the possibility of a place in Denmark's squad for France must be a distinct possibility.

Rovers have money to spend and it will be a major surprise if they are not major players in the transfer market this summer.

There are likely to be outgoings too but the fans are more concerned with strengthening the squad through some big signings.

Rovers, of course, already have one Danish striker still on the books in Per Pedersen.

He is on extended loan to Borussia Moenchengladbach with an option for the relegation threatened Germans to buy. But, as we reported recently, it could well be that he will return to Ewood at the end of the season.

Colin Hendry is looking an odds-on bet to skipper Scotland in the World Cup finals this summer.

The Ewood defender, given the job - temporarily at least - following the injury to Gary McAllister, has been named to lead the side again by Scottish coach Craig Brown when they take on Finland in a friendly tomorrow night.

Brown is reluctant to confirm his captain for France until the squad get together for the real thing, just in case he is hit by further injury problems.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.