ROY Hodgson will put his faith in new keeper John Filan to take over from injured Tim Flowers when the Premiership kicks off on August 9.

But the Blackburn Rovers boss is anxious about a lack of experienced cover for the position and is currently looking into bringing in a back-up keeper - maybe even on a short-term basis.

Names which could possibly figure in the club's thinking include Andy Dibble and Bobby Mimms.

Filan has played international football for Australia, a number of League games for Cambridge and 17 first team matches for Coventry. And Rovers have no worries about him stepping into the gap.

That's why they bought him.

But the injury to Flowers would mean putting youngster Anthony Williams on the bench for the opening League games.

And, although he has played for the Wales under-21 side and shows a lot of promise, he has only had a brief taste of first team action for Rovers in a pre-season situation.

"John Filan was brought here as understudy to Tim Flowers, with the obvious rider that he would go into the team if necessary," said Hodgson. "But in Anthony Williams we have a keeper who has not yet got any experience at that level of football. The problem is that I don't think we are allowed to take anybody on loan from the Premier League.

"But we are looking into the situation."

Dibble was released by Rangers at the end of last season, while former Ewood keeper Mimms got a free from Preston.

It's an awkward situation, for Rovers really only need insurance in the shape of an experienced man to sit on the bench - just in case - until Flowers is fit to return.

Fans who travel to West Bromwich Albion tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) for the friendly at the Hawthorns are likely to get their first glimpse of most if not all of the new players including Filan. Hodgson is expected to take a 16 or 17-strong squad to the midlands and give most of them a run out. Providing there are no late injury problems, all five new boys could well be included.

Meanwhile, Nicky Marker's £200,000 move to Sheffield United, exclusively revealed in last night's Lancashire Evening Telegraph, has been completed. The central defender was flying out to Norway today to join his new team-mates on their pre-season tour - just days after returning from Sweden and Denmark with Rovers.

And Paul Warhurst finally completed his £1.25 million move from Ewood to Crystal Palace last night, admitting that it had been his family's attachment to the North which had delayed the transfer.

"Obviously it is a big upheaval. I have been in the North of England all my career," said the 28-year-old utility player.

"My family is settled there and it is something you don't rush into and maybe that is why it has taken a little longer.

"Unfortunately with injuries things did not really work out there (with Rovers). I was quite versatile but, through injuries, it was not very enjoyable."

Warhurst expects to link up with Palace for training on Monday.

Hodgson has now sold four players, Warhurst, Marker, Niklas Gudmundsson and Matty Holmes with still more likely to leave in the coming months as he contiues restructuring the squad to his liking.

Rovers fans travelling to West Bromwich Albion tomorrow can pay on the turnstiles. Admission is £10 adults, £5 concessions.

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