ROVERS midfielder Damien Johnson last night staked a claim for a first team recall with a star performance in the reserves' 4-3 win over Liverpool at Morecambe's Christie Park.

The Northern Ireland international scored a cracking goal in front of a posse of scouts to remind Souness just what he can do.

And, with skipper Garry Flitcroft now facing the prospect of a three game ban while David Dunn has been ruled out for two weeks through injury, Johnson is hoping to seize his chance.

"When players get injured or suspended that does give players currently in the reserves like myself a chance," said Johnson.

"But the manager has a couple of options available to him so I've just got to keep working hard and then see what happens from there.

"When you're out of the team you've got to try and keep yourself as sharp as you possibly can in case you are called upon and that's what I'm trying to do.

"It has been frustrating not being involved over the last six weeks or so, apart from the game against Barnsley last week.

"So you don't really know where you are at times but that's what happens at a club like this because the competition for places is so strong.

"All you can do is make sure you are ready if you are called upon. You can't afford to let your head go down at any point."

With Johnson's contract set to run out at the end of the season and no new deal currently in the offing, a number of scouts checked him out again last night, but the former Youth team starlet still insists he would love to stay at Ewood if he got the chance.

"I want to stay here but I've not had good vibes so far," said Johnson. "All I can do is keep trying to impress either in the reserves or the first team when I get my chance because if I do well the reserve manager will, hopefully, send a good report back to the manager."