A NUMBER of Premiership clubs are closing in on Blackburn Rovers' out-of-favour midfielder Jason McAteer.

The Republic of Ireland international, who has slipped fown the pecking order at Ewood in recent weeks, has already been the subject of interest from Southampton.

But a couple of other top-flights clubs could now be ready to join the race for his signature if Blackburn boss Graeme Souness indicates he's ready to let the 29-year-old go.

Saints boss Glenn Hoddle contacted Rovers last month about a possible £1.5 million move for the player who joined Rovers from Liverpool for £4 million in January 1999.

And, as I understand it, a number of other clubs have since also made tentative enquiries about the player in the wake of that interest.

Whether anything comes of that or not, however, will depend on whether Souness feels he has adequate cover without him in midfield.

With Lee Carsley and Billy McKinlay now having left Ewood, Souness's midfield resources have been depleted over the last few weeks.

But McAteer is known to be frustrated by the fact he is having to settle for a place on the subs bench.

And, after Republic boss Mick McCarthy made it clear that his international future could be at stake if he is not playing regular first team football, the situation could yet come to a head in the not too distant future.