ROY Hodgson is hoping he can give Lars Bohinen's World Cup hopes a lift by releasing the midfielder for Norway's international with France next week.

The Blackburn Rovers boss is well aware of how important the friendly fixture is to Bohinen - it could spell make or break for his chances of staking a serious claim for a World Cup finals place.

And, even though it clashes with Rovers' FA Cup fifth round replay with West Ham, Hodgson has vowed to release his midfielder providing it doesn't damage Ewood hopes of progress.

"I will not pull him out of the international if I don't need him to start the game against West Ham," said the manager.

"Lars hasn't had too many opportunities with us and I have other players I can put on the bench.

"I don't want to see him lose a chance to play his way into Norway's World Cup squad.

"But we'll have to wait and see how things stand after our game at Southampton on Saturday."

Stuart Ripley is expected to be back in contention at Southampton and other players such as Anders Andersson are available as midfield cover.

So Rovers should have plenty of choice for the cup replay, providing nothing disastrous happens at the weekend.

And that would enable Hodgson to give Bohinen leave of absence for a game the Norwegian readily admits is crucial for him as he tries to persuade Egil Olsen to select him.

"It's a huge game for me," said the midfielder. "It's all about the World Cup. The one game might decide the whole thing unless I get back in the Blackburn side. Then I would have a better chance. "But I really have to convince him (Olsen) in that game that I am good enough and that is hard.

"Obviously, if I do well I will probably get another chance. But if I don't I will probably be left out as long as I am not playing here at Blackburn."

The English-based Norwegians have had two recent get-togethers at Brockhall and Bohinen believes that has played a part in his recall.

"It's about 16 months since I last played and it's good to be back. I am very pleased to be given a chance," he said.

"We had a couple of training sessions here and I think that made up his mind to give me a try.

"I haven't started a senior game for Blackburn since October and, while we have done well, sometimes I think I should have been given a chance."

Title-chasing Rovers Reserves take on Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood tonight (kick-off 7pm). The Reserves squad is: Fettis, Worrell, Valery, Andersson, Coughlan, Broomes, Henchoz, Bohinen, Beattie, Dahlin, Staton, Reed, Fitzpatrick, Thomas.

Rochdale goalkeeper Steve Bywater, 16, has signed for West Ham on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent transfer. The England under-18 goalkeeper had interested Rovers but the price quoted for him, believed to be around £500,000, was seen as unrealistic.

Michael Owen is now 9-4 favourite with Ladbrokes to finish as the Premiership's top scorer this season.

The 18-year-old, who last week became the youngest player to be capped for England this century, still trails Kevin Gallacher and Chris Sutton by one goal.

But Ladbrokes spokesman Sean Boyce said of Owen: "We've been mightily impressed with his form of late.

"It's hard to believe that back in autumn we were offering odds of 100-1 on Owen."

Robbie Fowler, who started the season out in front at 3-1, is now 8-1 fourth favourite behind Andy Cole (5-2) and Sutton (5-1).

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