CRAIG Hignett wants the chance to play his way back into Graeme Souness's plans as Blackburn Rovers prepare to enter a crucial period in their quest for promotion.

The former Barnsley midfielder has had to settle for a place on the bench since his last first team start against Tranmere on December 2.

But the 30-year-old was hoping for a recall against Chester City in this afternoon's FA Cup third round clash at Ewood Park.

And, with vital six-pointers against Birmingham, Bolton and Watford looming large on the horizon, Hignett is desperate to prove he's worth a permanent starting place.

"There's a few of us hoping to get back involved so, hopefully, that will happen today," said Hignett.

"I've had a little taste over the last few games. I've come on for half an hour in both of them and it's just good to get back on the pitch.

"But the gaffer has been great with me.

"He said, with me missing pre-season training, he just felt the games were catching up with me so he decided to give me a bit of a rest.

"But now I'm desperate to get back involved again.

"In a funny way, sitting out the last five games has probably set me back a bit. But I've been doing extra training and a bit more running. "And I certainly feel a little bit sharper in training than I have done for a while."

An eye-catching performance against Chester today would do his cause no harm, especially with Mark Hughes facing a two-match ban and midfield duo Garry Flitcroft and Damien Johnson both out injured.

But Hignett has bitter-sweet memories of his last meeting with City during his days at Middlesbrough.

"The last time I played Chester I got sent off," said Hignett.

"That was for Middlesbrough and I was arguing over a penalty they got when we were 5-0 up.

"So I'm hoping to avoid a repeat of that." "But you've got to treat these games properly.

"It doesn't matter if you're playing a team from a lower division or not.

"If you're not right and you don't set off right then you could have problems." One man keen to write another chapter in his own cup career is Mark Hughes.

The former Manchester United and Chelsea star is the only man to have won four FA Cup winners medals at Wembley.

And, with this season's final set to be played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the Welsh boss would love to take his medal haul to five with Rovers.

"It's still a special competition and I'm just glad it's back to its normal time this year. This is a natural break in the season after everyone has had a lot of games over the Christmas period. "But after the New Year the FA Cup comes around and everyone looks forward to it," said Hughes.

On the injury front, Flitcroft has a 50-50 chance of being back for Wednesday night's clash with Preston. But Johnson could be out for another two or three weeks.

"Garry's making progress, he's starting to put weight on it, and he's done a little bit of running," said assistant boss Tony Parkes.

"And, with injections and modern science, they do get better quicker than they did 10 years ago.

"So he's probably 10 days away."

"As for Damien, backs are very difficult so I think he's still two or three weeks away yet."

Rovers' clash with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok in February will now be screened live on Sky.

The game should have taken place on Saturday, February 24 but will now go ahead on Friday, February 23 (kick off 7.45pm).