BLACKBURN ROVERS boss Mark Hughes is guarding against a European hangover as his side take on Wigan tomorrow.

Last season, Middlesbrough and Bolton saw their league form suffer after playing Thursday night European ties and is keen not to fall into the same trap.

Rovers won their Premiership game after the first leg against Salzburg - a 4-2 win over Manchester City - but admitted Rovers were sluggish in the first-half.

And he said he would have his players mentally prepared as Rovers aim to extend their unbeaten run to six after winning three games and drawing twice in September.

He said: "It can be more of a mental thing. After the first leg, we played Man City and we were poor in the first-half but we shook ourselves in the second and we were much better.

"So that shows it's not a physical thing. It's a mental thing - that you have to be ready to perform again in a short space of time so that's what we'll be focusing on leading up to this game."

And Hughes said he will be scrutinising his players closely for any signs they're not at their best as he aims to topple the Latics.

"I think it's just recognising the signs," he said.

"The players are aware that you may see a little hint in training that they are not quite at the level that they should be and when you see it you have to highlight it to them and make them aware. Sometimes players aren't aware and have to be told."

But Hughes said the players are relishing the extra workload after pushing themselves to the limit to finish sixth last season and qualify as of right for the UEFA Cup.

He added. "We've worked extremely hard to be in the position where we're playing big games week in, week out so we're going to enjoy the experience.

"We'll have big games probably every week between now and December and we're looking forward to playing the games we'll have to play.

"They (the squad) know that I'm going to use the squad more than I did last year. It's important that the players understand that.

"It's a big ask to expect players to play every weekend and then in midweek so we'll have to use the squad and they need to be ready and I'm sure they will be."