ROY Hodgson today rubbished any suggestions that he was interested in Monaco forwards Thierry Henry and Viktor Ikpeba.

And the Blackburn Rovers boss also laid to rest a story in one of this morning's national tabloids about Garry Flitcroft and Barnsley, who are said to have targeted the Ewood midfielder.

But the manager has admitted making contact with Italian giants Lazio about their international striker Pierluigi Casiraghi.

Hodgson was linked with the Monaco duo in a Sunday newspaper report, after he watched the Champions' League game between Lierse and Monaco.

But he stressed that he had not the slightest intention of trying to bring either player to Ewood.

"In fact, I was looking at Lierse," he said.

Hodgson wouldn't have needed to watch Monaco, as they played Inter Milan over two legs in last season's UEFA Cup when he was in charge of the Italian club.

Ikpeba scored in both games but Hodgson could not have been more forceful in ruling out any interest in him or his team-mate Henry.

As for the Flitcroft story, Hodgson said there had not been any contact from Barnsley, adding: "It's very flattering for Garry Flitcroft but it's fiction and, anyway, he's not for sale."

The situation concerning Casiraghi, however, is a different matter.

In a statement, the manager confirmed Rovers had spoken to both Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti and coach Sven Goran Eriksson about Casiraghi. And it seems the door has been left open for possible future negotiations should the Serie A club have a change of heart about releasing the striker.

Though Hodgson said that speculation about the size of the transfer fee and salary demands was inaccurate and Rovers were not prepared to divulge details of their "private" talks with the Lazio representatives.

"I can confirm that we have been directly in contact with Messrs Eriksson and Cragnotti regarding the possibility of a transfer," he said. "At present, Lazio prefer to keep him - their situation having quickly changed following their last three successful results.

"Lazio will inform us of any changes in this situation."

There was a boost for Rovers defender Chris Coleman last night when he completed 90 minutes for Wales in their friendly against world champions Brazil.

Although the injury-hit Welsh were beaten 3-0 in Brasilia, to start and finish a game at that level will give a big boost to the central defender's comeback hopes.

Rovers have been careful to nurse him back into action after around a year on the sidelines following Achilles tendon surgery.

Rovers are taking the opportunity to give some seniors who haven't played too much lately a game with the reserves when they visit Aston Villa tonight for a Pontin's League Premier Division fixture.

The squad is: Fettis, Worrell, Valery, Andersson, Reed, Broomes, Johnson, Bohinen, Beattie, Thomas, Wilcox, Gill, Fitzpatrick, Coughlan.

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