EWOOD chief Graeme Souness is weighing up a move for Sedan left-back David Di Tomasso.

The French defender has impressed on trial at Brockhall this week after being recommended to Rovers by a third party.

But Souness wants another look at the player before he decides on whether or not to follow up with a £1 million bid as he ponders a number of options in his quest for extra defensive cover.

"I think David might be the best option we've seen so far," said Souness.

"But we'll have to see him play again because we had a practice match on Thursday but it was really windy and only against the kids.

"So it's hard to make a proper judgement at this stage."

Di Tomasso is just one of several trialists to have passed through the doors at Brockhall over the last few weeks.

And Souness is also keen on Italian defender Mauro Milanese after his spies watched the former Inter Milan man in action for Perugia against Lazio last Sunday.

The 29-year-old could be available for a knockdown £500,000 fee before his contract expires at the end of the season.

But Souness has expressed an interest in signing the player on loan -- a deal which could move a step closer if Di Tomasso fails to provide the answer.

Meanwhile, Rovers head for Ipswich tomorrow in search of their first away points of the new season.

And Souness is expecting another tough examination against a side who made a big impact on their Premiership return last season.

"Ipswich are an example to anyone coming up out of the First Division," said Souness.

"They got out of the Nationwide League playing football and I think there was a theory that if they continued to go down that road in the Premiership then they'd get punished.

"But they proved a lot of people wrong, they continued to play football, they managed to entertain their fans and they get a lot of points in the bag, which enabled them to qualify for Europe.

"So you don't win as many games as they won if you are a flash in the pan.

"They are a good team with good players and you have to say George Burley has done a wonderful job there.

"It's not the most fashionable club in the world but he seems to have bonded a group of players into a team which makes them formidable.

"It looks like he's got a good chairman and they've laid some solid foundations so they're only going to go from strength to strength."

As we reported in later editions last night, Jason McAteer is not in the squad after asking not to be considered for Wednesday night's game against Oldham in order to avoid getting cup-tied.

John Curtis and David Dunn are also missing as they battle back from injury.

And Craig Short also looks set to be absent after picking up a knock in training.

Rovers will choose from: Friedel, Berg, Taylor, Bjornebye, Neill, Flitcroft, Tugay, Mahon, Gillespie, Grabbi, Duff, Jansen, Bent, Hughes, Johnson, Hignett, Miller.

Meanwhile, Ipswich boss George Burley is sweating on the fitness of star striker Marcus Stewart ahead of Rovers' visit.

The former Huddersfield hit-man, who scored 21 goals for Town last season, is currently struggling with a hamstring strain.

Burley will give him every possible chance to prove his fitness before kick-off.

But, with Ipswich set to meet Torpedo Moscow in their delayed UEFA Cup tie on Thursday, he will not take rest on his top-scorer if he is not ready.

"I wouldn't have played against Torpedo Moscow if the game had gone ahead as planned on Thursday but the postponement has given me extra time to get right for tomorrow," said Stewart.

"It's still very much touch and go, though."

Ipswich from: Sereni, Makin, Hreidarsson, Bramble, McGreal, George, Holland, Magilton, Wright, Clapham, Armstrong, Naylor, Bent, Wilnis, Miller, Branagan.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness has decided to appeal against Marcus Bent's sending off in the Worthington Cup on Wednesday night after watching the incident again on video.

"We are appealing against it because he was harshly treated in my opinion," said Souness.

"So we'll be contacting the FA about that because I think the video replay shows my players were the innocent party."

If Rovers fail to overturn the decision, then Bent faces a three game ban.

Meanwhile, Rovers' opponents in round three were due to be determined today following a live draw on ITV.