BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has been rocked by the news that Lorenzo Amoruso's season could be over.

The former Rangers star has damaged his hamstring in training and Souness fears the powerful Italian will now miss Rovers' last three games.

"It's an almighty blow to us," said Souness today.

"Amo has injured his hamstring in training and it looks like we might not see him again this season.

"Our medical staff are currently assessing the extent of the damage but you've got to be careful with hamstring injuries so he won't play against Manchester United this weekend and that could be it for him for the season."

Amoruso only recently returned to the side after a five month lay-off with a knee injury and his recent performances have inspired Rovers to vital victories over Fulham, Leicester and Everton.

To lose him now is a hammer blow with the club still needing a point to guarantee their Premiership status for another 12 months.

The 32-year-old was just beginning to strike up an understanding with Craig Short at the heart of a revamped Rovers defence, a fact underlined by two successive clean sheets.

Souness recently said Rovers wouldn't have been fighting relegation in the first place had Amoruso been fit all season so to lose him now, barely 48 hours before United visit Ewood, could jeopardise the team's chances of finishing the season on a high.

Andy Todd would have been the obvious replacement but his refusal to go on the bench against Leeds has cost him the chance of making a swift return so Nissa Johansson will come in instead.

Meanwhile, Graeme Souness was in Oslo last night to watch Norway's international friendly with Russia.

The Rovers boss was checking out a number of potential transfer targets with a view to the summer.

He also saw current Rovers midfielder Martin Andresen score in the Norwegian's 3-2 victory.

Meanwhile, Rovers defender Craig Short has urged Premiership managers to start scouring the lower leagues for talent as well as looking abroad.

Jonathan Stead's meteoric rise from the Third Division to the Premiership has proved the quality gap can be bridged.

And Short believes there's plenty more players around in the Nationwide League who could follow in Stead's footsteps if they were only given the chance to prove themselves at a higher level.

Stead has been nothing short of a revelation for Rovers since he arrived in a £1 million deal from Huddersfield three months ago.

Five goals in his first 10 games have virtually guaranteed Rovers' place in the Premiership for a further 12 months.

And Short has been hugely impressed by the way the 21-year-old has coped with the step up in class.

"It surprises me that more players aren't bought from the lower leagues," said Short.

"People say it's too big a gap to bridge but I don't think it's that big at all.

"Jon hasn't been overawed by it, he's just taken it in his stride.

"A lot of clubs looked at him and thought 'can he make the jump?' but we took the gamble and there's probably one or two more players down there who could make the transition, so maybe clubs should start looking there now."