PETER Reid is expected to make a seven-figure bid for Blackburn Rovers' 20-year-old goalkeeper Shay Given when newly-promoted Sunderland return from an end-of-season break.

But Sunderland boss Reid already suspects what the answer will be from Ewood - a resounding not for sale.

Given became something of a cult figure during an extended loan spell at Roker Park, helping Sunderland to achieve promotion to the Premiership.

And they are prepared to spend money to try to consolidate in the top flight next season.

A goalkeeper is one of Reid's priorities and he knows that he must at least try to persuade Rovers to part with Given.

But he has also acknowledged that he is unlikely to be successful.

Sunderland are about to leave on a short break to celebrate winning the First Division title and Reid is believed to be ready to make contact when they return.

Given, incidentally, has been honoured by North East football writers with a special presentation to mark his contribution to Sunderland's promotion effort. Meanwhile, Jason Wilcox was waiting the announcement of the England squad today with special interest.

The Ewood winger's call-up to the national squad by Terry Venables for the Croatia game encouraged hopes that there might be an outside chance of Wilcox staking a late claim for a Euro 96 place.

Today, Venables was naming his squad for the final home friendly against Hungary, with a two-game trip to the Far East to come. Wilcox didn't figure against Croatia but he has had an excellent finish to the season, proving his fitness after battling back from cruciate ligament surgery which kept him out for almost a year.

Venables is about to start pruning his squad, in preparation for announcing his 22-man line-up for the European Championship finals, and Wilcox knows he is only on the fringe of things.

But, if he was to get another call today, the door would still be open.

Former Ewood apprentice Gareth Ainsworth has been voted Lincoln City's player of the year, after finishing as the club's top scorer. Ainsworth, whose family still live in Blackburn, was signed by John Beck from Preston North End in November and, although he had missed a substantial part of the season, he scored 12 times in his 30 League games for Lincoln to top the goal charts.

The Sincil Bank fans also voted him as their away player of the season.

Ainsworth has played under Beck at three clubs, Preston, Cambridge and now Lincoln.

Rovers Reserves play their final game of the season tonight, when they visit West Bromwich Albion when Garry Flitcroft, having completed his bans, is included.

The squad is: Given, Gill, Croft, Flitcroft, Marker, Broomes, Johnson, Holmes, Beattie, Thomas, Duff, Hitchen, Morgan, Coughlan.

Ray Harford turned out in the first half of a testimonial game for ex-Rover Bobby Svarc at Colchester last night.

Svarc, signed by Rovers from Colchester, where Ewood boss Harford is a former player and coach, also played 45 minutes in a game against a Derby X1, managed by Jim Smith, another man with Layer Road and Ewood connections.

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