BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today revealed forgotten duo Egil Ostenstad and Jeff Kenna could still have futures at Ewood as Rovers prepare to wind up their pre-season tour of Austria and Germany in Plauen tonight.
Norwegian international Ostenstad and Republic of Ireland defender Kenna both feared their Rovers careers were over after being farmed out on loan to other clubs during the promotion run-in at the back end of last season.
However, both have since featured quite prominently during the opening two games of Rovers' European adventure.
And Souness has now given his broadest hint yet that they could still have a role to play in the club's first season back in the top-flight.
"We've got a squad of players and no-one has been ruled out and no-one has been bombed," said Souness.
"What I see on this tour will determine what will happen at the start of the season.
"So Jeff and Egil haven't been ruled out at all. Definitely not."
Kenna's frustration at being overlooked in favour of John Curtis actually resulted in him asking for a transfer towards the back end of last season -- a request which was granted.
But, following a heart-to-heart with the manager, he has now decided to fight Curtis all the way for the right-back spot ahead of the big kick off three weeks tomorrow.
"I think Jeff's situation is a bit like that of Keith Gillespie in that he said he wanted to leave but then found there wasn't a lot of people out there who wanted him so what's your option?" said Souness.
"He's got a contract with us and it's now up to him to buckle down and work hard and try and get himself back into the team.
"But that's the same at every club, not just at ours."
With Curtis still struggling to recover from an Achilles problem, Kenna could well get the nod again tonight when Rovers take on VFC Plauen at the Vogtlands Stadium in the final match of their three game tour.
But skipper Garry Flitcroft will play no part against the German Oberliga outfit after flying back to England last night to be with his wife who's due to give birth this weekend.
Matt Jansen should return up front, however, to partner Italian striker Corrado Grabbi for the first time after he was rested from the team which drew 2-2 with Crailsheim on Wednesday night.
And Brad Friedel has also been pencilled in for his first competitive action of the tour after playing no part at all in the opening two games.
Manager Souness would love to end the 12-day trip on a winning note before the squad fly back to prepare for next week's games against Port Vale, Wrexham and Bradford.
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