TONY Parkes is looking to comeback man Ian Pearce to help ease Blackburn Rovers' fears - even though battle-scarred Colin Hendry came through last night's acid test with flying colours.

And it could mean an imminent recall to the senior squad for the 22-year-old if he comes through another 90 minutes with the reserves tonight.

It would be a major boost for Rovers to have Pearce back to boost their battle to beat the drop, which was given another lift as the point they collected from Nottingham Forest saw them climb into 12th place - their highest of the season.

Hendry, who aims to put off potential groin surgery until the season's end to help Rovers stay in the Premiership, is playing from game to game, with the only other experienced cover in the centre of defence being Nicky Marker.

"It will be a big bonus for us if Ian comes through tonight and we will then be looking to add him to the squad," said Parkes.

"Colin seemed to be okay at the end of the game last night, which was very pleasing.

"But if we can get Ian Pearce back as well, it will give us some breathing space. It's obviously a worry about Colin, especially with games coming so close together, but there is also the chance of someone else picking up a knock.

"So the more experienced players we have available the better." Pearce has been dogged by major injury problems of his own with just two first-team starts in the past 16 months.

Hopefully, that is now behind him.

There is a busy schedule ahead, with three games in eight days coming up, and Parkes will also be looking to Stuart Ripley to confirm his return to full fitness tonight.

The winger travelled with the squad to Chelsea last week, without being involved.

But he will be looking to start challenging again soon.

Rovers are gradually inching their way to safety, although they were disappointed not to beat Nottingham Forest last night. They had to come from behind but, as Garry Flitcroft said afterwards: "We should have got all three points for our second half performance. But it's another point for us and if we keep picking them up we'll get out of it.

"They sat back in the first half and made it difficult for us but we got down the left-hand side a lot more in the second half.

"When you are playing teams at the bottom, it's going to be a scrap but I thought we matched them and it should have been three points."

Goal hero Kevin Gallacher came in for much praise after his spectacular equaliser.

Parkes said: "We've been really pleased with Kevin this season. He's been the one to get us going at times when we have needed a lift.

"He must be 30 but he plays like an 18-year-old."

Rovers Reserves' squad for tonight's game at Derby is: Given, Worrell, Croft, Morgan, Pearce, Coughlan, Ripley, Chisholm, Thomas, Gudmundsson, Duff, Whealing, Staton, Hitchen.

Lars Bohinen will miss Rovers' trip to Middlesbrough next Wednesday, after it was confirmed he had topped 21 disciplinary points for an automatic one-match ban.

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