BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is sweating on the fitness of a number of key players ahead of Saturday's crucial Premiership clash with Manchester City.

Young striker Paul Gallagher has picked up a back injury since Saturday's game against Bolton, while Lucas Neill also missed training yesterday after suffering a groin injury.

That leaves Souness anxiously waiting for news from the treatment room before he can begin to finalise his plans for the club's first ever trip to the City of Manchester Stadium.

Veteran defender Craig Short is hoping to step up his comeback plans during the next few days as he battles to recover from a hamstring injury.

And there's also a chance that Alan Mahon and Steven Reid could be back in contention after thigh and hamstring injuries respectively.

But news of the injuries to Gallagher and Neill are another blow to Souness at a time when his squad is already down to the bare bones.

Gallagher has been a revelation up front for Rovers since he burst onto the first team scene earlier this season.

He has arguably become Souness's first choice striker during the last month, with Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke battling it out for the place alongside him.

If he failed to make it against City then his energy and invention in the final third would be sorely missed.

But Souness is still hopeful that both he and Neill will be fit to face City in a game which is vital to both clubs.

Andy Todd is a definite non-starter, however, as the former Bolton defender serves a one-match ban this weekend.

As a result, Short will be given until the last possible moment to prove he has fully recovered from the hamstring injury he sustained against Wolves.

The 35-year-old suffered a grade one tear which normally side-lines players for at least 10 days.

But Short did some light running yesterday and hopes to step-up his rehabilitation in the next 48 hours.

Meanwhile, Rovers have denied newspaper reports of Martin Taylor's imminent departure to Birmingham.

A report claimed the two clubs have opened talks regarding a £3m move for the former England U21 stopper.

However, Rovers chief executive John Williams said: "There is no live bid on the table at this time. There has been dialogue between the two managers, but nothing has been agreed."

Williams also revealed that Rovers retain an interest in American striker Brian McBride. However, he shot down suggestions of another bid for the Columbus Crew hitman.

He said: "Brian is a player we still have an interest in, but at present we have not been able to make much progress."