RAY Harford believes some good will come out of Blackburn Rovers' agonising start to the defence of their Premiership title and UEFA Champions' League programme.

Only time will tell, but the Rovers boss clearly feels that the experiences of the last few weeks will, eventually, stand his players in good stead.

Rocked by Rosenborg, mauled by Middlesbrough, Rovers staggered back onto the winning trail against in-form Swindon Town in the Coca-Cola Cup before - their international players excepted - taking advantage of a 10-day break in the fixtures.

And Harford said: "I think we have all learned a lot as a group of people from those 25 days when we played eight matches.

"Maybe one or two of the players have had their pride jolted because of the results and what has been said about them.

"But they are a really good bunch of players and they will come through it.

"We can take the stick that came because we are the champions.

"Maybe it's not such a shock now if we lose a game.

"But they are very mature and can handle it." The break was welcomed by the Rovers boss, not least because of his injury problems.

But it also meant he could sit down and take stock, work on wheeling and dealing, and also get down to basics on the training ground with the players who weren't either injured or away on international duty.

"The players looked as though they were enjoying themselves again against Swindon," he said.

"And now we can look at the injuries and work at the other problems."

Meanwhile, Tim Flowers is confident, after minor surgery to clean up damage around his elbow joint, that he will be back in action soon.

The keeper is hoping to be available for the game against his old club Southampton - Rovers' next match - though he has also been battling against the pain from a shoulder injury this season.

If not, he should certainly be in the frame for the Champions' Le ague visit to Legia Warsaw.

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