Blackburn manager Graeme Souness has described Australian defender Lucas Neill as arrogant - but in the best sense of the word.

Souness likes players who are self-confident and he said: "He's got a thing about him - arrogance which I love in a player.

"Perhaps arrogance is not quite the right word, but he's got this belief in his own ability that he should be a Premier League player and we've given him the chance to show that."

Neill, who joined Blackburn two weeks ago in a £1million deal from Millwall and scored his first goal in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Bolton, will continue at right-back against Everton at Ewood Park because of John Curtis' calf injury.

Knee-injury victim Craig Short is expected to be absent and Rovers will check on Keith Gillespie, who also has had a knee problem.

Paul Gascoigne could make his first Premiership start since last November at Blackburn.

Many believed Gascoigne would never play again in the top flight after a summer in a rehabilitation clinic in the United States.

But he came on as a second-half substitute against Liverpool last weekend and boss Walter Smith hopes to pair him with Scot Gemmill.

He said: "Scot has been one of our best performers this season. Playing him alongside Gascoigne would be a good partnership."

Smith may have to wait a while as Gemmill, along with Alessandro Pistone and Mark Pembridge, is recovering from injury.

Striker Tomasz Radzinski could also make his first start since his £4.5million summer move from Anderlecht.