ROVERS boss Graeme Souness today insisted Mark Hughes could still have a big part to play in his plans this season after the veteran striker scored a stunning goal to sink his old club Barcelona yesterday.
The 37-year-old hitman gave Rovers a massive shot in the arm ahead of the big kick-off at Derby on Saturday after climbing off the bench to score a brilliant winner with his very first touch.
It was a fairytale ending to an enthralling contest in which Rovers eventually ran out 3-2 winners.
And Ewood chief Souness later stressed the Welsh boss could still be a potent weapon in the Premiership even though he looks set to start the campaign with Matt Jansen and new £6.75 million signing Ciccio Grabbi up front.
"Mark's enthusiasm for the game has never changed during the time he's been with us and I've certainly not heard him say this is his last year," said Souness.
"Last season we started with him in a lot of games because we felt that if defenders had been fighting with him for an hour then they'd know it.
"But whenever Mark Hughes enters a pitch, whether it's in the first five minutes or the last five minutes, any defender is not going to relish the thought of him coming on and playing against them because he's a bully.
"So he's still very much a part of our thinking and he could have a crucial role to play over the next nine months."
With the new season just six days away, Souness was looking for a confidence-booster ahead of the trip to Pride Park.
And that's exactly what transpired as Rovers beat the Spanish giants after earlier goals from Garry Flitcroft and Nathan Blake had set Hughes up for his grandstand finish.
"It was a good afternoon's work for us," said Souness. "We had to work very, very hard against a very good team.
"They made us run around and it was exactly what we wanted at this stage of our preparations.
"We spent a lot of time without the ball and we knew that was going to be the case but that will happen in the Premier League this year where you're playing against good players who don't give the ball away.
"We know this year we're going to have to play a different type of football to that we played last year.
"We're going to have to concede ground to teams who come here unlike last year when we thought we could go gung-ho and chase everyone off the park.
"But we can't do that next year and our fans will have to be patient."
Souness decided not to risk star-striker Matt Jansen at the last minute after the player was sent to hospital for a precautionary X-ray on his shoulder on Friday.
And Turkish midfield ace Tugay also missed the chance to make his home debut because of the thigh injury.
Both players should be fit and ready to face Derby, however, as Rovers look to announce their return to the big time in style.
"Matt could have played yesterday and, if it was a league game, then he would have pushed himself," said Souness.
"But we were not in a rush to do that so he should be fine for Saturday and so will Tugay who's just got a little niggle on his thigh muscle."
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