GRAEME Souness has set about targeting the midfield men he wants to replace Barry Ferguson.

The Blackburn Rovers boss has revealed he started working on filling the void left by the Scottish international's horrific injury almost immediately after Sunday's 1-0 win at Newcastle.

The broken kneecap Ferguson sustained in the game will rule him out for the rest of the season but the situation has become even more urgent with the January transfer window looming.

Garry Flitcroft will also miss Rovers' next Premiership game against Bolton on January 10, after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.

And Souness admits that the midfield misery he will endure in the New Year has forced him to rethink his transfer priorities.

He said: "We were looking to strengthen before Barry's injury but we have a budget to work from and we felt the priority wasn't central midfield.

"But all of a sudden, that's what it is so any money we've got, that's where we'll spend it.

"We've targeted a couple of players but whether we can afford them remains to be seen.

"But it was only an hour and a half after Sunday's game that we started targeting people. We've got names and we're asking questions."

It's likely Souness will request extra financial aid for his potential signings, as the quality he looks for to improve his squad will come at a price.

"I've got a good group of players so to improve that you have to spend some real cash," said Souness.

"I can bring in loans or free transfers, but are they going to improve us? Not necessarily."

Rovers chief executive John Williams has recognised the importance of replacing Ferguson, who was fast becoming the mainstay of Souness's team.

"We have lost an influential player. He is a big player and it's a serious blow for him and for Rovers," said Williams.

"We have to sit down with the manager and look at what it means financially and see how we can best suit that. But we are talking about something that happened less than two days ago and you can't plan in advance for something like this."

Ferguson had an operation yesterday at a Manchester hospital after being X-rayed in Newcastle and travelling home on the team coach.

Williams added: "The operation went well but the early prognosis of him being out for the season is still the fact.

"It was a bitter-sweet day for us at Newcastle.

"It seems every silver lining has a big, black cloud."

Williams has quashed weekend rumours linking Rovers with a transfer window swoop for Barcelona's wantaway winger Marc Overmars.

"He's not a target," said the Rovers chief.

As well as a suspension for Flitcroft, Andy Todd collected his fifth caution in the victory over Newcastle, meaning he will miss the side's first visit to Manchester City's new stadium on Saturday January 17.

Meanwhile, Scotland coach Berti Vogts may make rising star Darren Fletcher his new captain, following Ferguson's injury.

Vogts hopes the former Rangers man will be able to start Scotland's World Cup qualifying campaign in September - but he will pick his new captain from Manchester United youngster Fletcher, Christian Dailly and Steven Pressley.

"It's a terrible thing to happen," Vogts said of Ferguson's misfortune.

"We've a series of friendlies and we're planning a summer tour and we wanted him involved.

"But the captaincy doesn't worry me. We have Christian Dailly, Steven Pressley and we also have Darren Fletcher who could do it."

In the meantime, Vogts plans to travel south to see Ferguson.

"I hope I'll be able to contact him directly following he has had his operation," he said.

"He'll be coming to Glasgow at some stage, but I'll go to Blackburn to see him."