BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes is ready to offer Ryan Nelsen the chance to prove himself in the Premiership.

The New Zealand international defender has made a big impression on Hughes and his coaching staff during a two-week trial at the club.

And now the Blackburn boss is ready to open talks about signing the 27-year-old on a free when the transfer window opens next month.

Hughes has made no secret of his desire to sign a new defender as he attempts to shore up one of the Premier League's leakiest defences.

Several players have trained with the club in the last few weeks in the hope of winning a permanent deal.

But as I understand it, Nelsen has made the biggest impact so far and the fact he's available for nothing makes him an attractive proposition.

Hughes said today: "We are speaking to his advisers and there might be something happening.

"We'll see where we go with that but it has to suit both parties."

Nelsen has spent the last four seasons playing in Major League Soccer with Washington-based side DC United.

In America, players' contracts are owned centrally by the MLS but Nelsen will become a free agent on December 31 when his present deal expires.

In the meantime, Hughes and Rovers are focusing on tomorrow's six-pointer with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Only goal difference separates the two teams in the Premier League table and Hughes knows a win would act as a major fillip for Rovers, particularly after last week's set-back against Spurs.

"It's an important game as they all are at the moment," said the Rovers boss.

"We are up against one of the teams in and around us in the table and we're always looking to pick up three points against sides like that.

"I hope last week's performance was a blip. It was one of those days where we huffed and puffed a lot but we were unable to break down a well organised Spurs side.

"But this is an opportunity to get back on track and it's important we take it."

Hughes will again be without Youri Djorkaeff, who is still recovering from a hamstring tear, and he's resigned to the fact that Tugay could be out for six weeks after damaging his knee ligaments in training earlier this week.

"That's a blow to us," said Hughes. "Tugay has done well for us since I came to the club and he's worked very, very hard.

"I think he's added something to his game and we are very unfortunate to lose him now.

"It was an innocuous challenge in training but he twisted around, which is how he got the injury."

David Thompson and Garry Flitcroft are both competing to replace the Turk in midfield tomorrow.