BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness could be boosted by the return of Stig Inge Bjornebye ahead of tomorrow night's promotion showdown with Bolton at the Reebok.

Bjornebye has missed the best part of a month with a knee ligament injury sustained in training.

But the Norwegian international has stepped up his comeback plans over the last seven days.

And Souness has revealed the former Liverpool man has a chance of returning for Rovers' biggest match of the season so far.

"Stig's making progress all the time and he could be ready for a place in the squad at Bolton," said Souness.

"He's played most of the season so his match fitness hasn't been too badly affected.

"So it's a case of waiting to see where he's up to over the next couple of days."

Should Bjornebye return then it would present Souness with more valuable options ahead of the biggest game of his Rovers career.

A victory tomorrow would turn the heat up on second-placed Wanderers.

And Souness is in no doubt as to the importance of the contest.

"It's a monster game for us now after what happened on Tuesday night."

Rovers travelled north immediately after their 1-0 victory at Watford's Vicarage Road.

But the whole squad stayed together in a hotel on the outskirts of Blackburn in a bid to focus their minds on the task ahead.

And Souness hopes the experience will have left his players feeling refreshed as they face their third big game in seven days.

"The thinking behind it was some of the players have young babies and they would have been under pressure to take kids to school yesterday morning," said Souness.

"But we let them stay in their beds until 11 o'clock, then we trained for half an hour down at Brockhall, had a bit of lunch and let them go home.

"So, hopefully, they'll feel a bit fresher for it."

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland international Damien Johnson looks set to take another step on the road to recovery tonight in Rovers' reserve clash with Manchester United at Morecambe's Christie Park.

The 22-year-old midfielder has now shaken off a back injury and made his first appearance in three months against Newcastle United's second string last week.

And another run-out against United tonight could see him knocking on the first team door again in time for next week's clash with West Brom at Ewood.

Morecambe officials are expecting a bumper crowd for the game with Dwight Yorke set to feature for United.

Rovers today announced a new date for their re-arranged clash with Fulham at Ewood.

Graeme Souness's promotion chasers will now meet the league leaders on Wednesday April 11 (kick off 7.45pm).

The match was originally due to take place on Wednesday March 7 but Rovers will now entertain Bolton in an FA Cup fifth round replay on that date.