NORWEGIAN ice-man Henning Berg will be fit to face Middlesbrough at the weekend despite suffering a calf strain during Saturday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

Ewood chief Graeme Souness today confirmed he will rest the 32-year-old as a precaution against Manchester City on Wednesday night.

But Berg is confident of returning for Saturday's game against Boro after his man-of-the-match performance ensured Rovers maintained their record of never having lost a Premiership game at the Bridge.

"I just felt my calf tighten and there was no way I could go on," explained the Ewood defender.

"I went over on my ankle against Liverpool last week which meant I had to strap my leg up very tightly and that caused the problem against Chelsea.

"But it feels a lot better now and I'm hoping to be fit for Saturday."

Berg's absence against City means Nils-Eric Johansson and Martin Taylor are both in line for a recall after Souness indicated he may also rest another one of his defenders.

But he has vowed to field a strong side on Wednesday with a place in the Worthington Cup quarter finals awaiting the winners.