ROVERS defender Hakan Unsal faces a race against time to be fit for the biggest game of his life, the World Cup semi-final against Brazil on Wednesday.

Unsal missed the golden goal defeat of Senegal in the quarter-finals at the weekend with a knee problem but is hoping that his World Cup dream is not over.

A match against Brazil would bring him face-to-face with Rivaldo who played a big part in getting Unsal sent off in the group game between the two sides.

The Brazilian star was subsequently fined for feigning injury to his face but Unsal was still suspended for the next game after his red card.

Rovers chief executive John Williams said today: "We understand that it is a cartilage problem but that could be anything."

With Rivaldo being linked with a move to Serie A giants Lazio there is the chance that the two could meet up at Ewood Park in the prestigious pre-season friendly in August.

One man certain to feature against Brazil on Wednesday is Tugay, the Rovers midfielder having been influential throughout the tournament, not least against Senegal with an impressive display in the centre of the park.

The two Turks and another of Rovers' World Cup heroes, United States keeper Brad Friedel, will all be rewarded with an extra week's holiday when they arrive back to the club.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness knows that the duo, along with goalkeeper Friedel, who crashed out of the tournament when Germany beat USA 1-0 on Friday, will be drained after progressing so far in the tournament and is desperate to avoid any risk of pre-season burn-out.

The rest of the Blackburn squad are due to report back to Brockhall on July 8 for the start of pre-season training but the manager does not expect to see Friedel, Unsal or Tugay for until a week later.

Irish stars Damien Duff and Alan Kelly will not have the same extra week after their heroic exit eight days ago and will be back in training with the rest of the squad.

As the World Cup draws to a close, thoughts are already starting to turn towards next season's Premiership campaign and Rovers' matches are already being switched.

Two away clashes - against West Brom and Charlton Athletic - will be screened live on Sky TV.

The West Brom game has been changed to Monday, September 30, and the clash with Charlton at The Valley is now on Sunday, November 24.

Meanwhile defender Simon Grayson, who has been released by Rovers, is being linked with a move to first division Rotherham United.