GRAEME Souness aims to pile the pressure on his Blackburn Rovers players as the First Division season enters its final phase.

And that will now include Lee Carsley, who was set to end his lengthy absence against Portsmouth at Ewood this afternoon, having benefited from the Ewood manager's patience.

Souness today warned anyone hoping for an easy ride -- no chance.

For he will not accept second best as he sorts out his close-season plans.

"While we still have to keep believing that we can reach the play-offs, we also have to make judgments between now and the end of the season," said the manager.

"There may well have to be changes.

"So if the players think it's all about a stroll-up, starting against Portsmouth, it will be pointed out to them in no uncertain terms that it isn't.

"We are always on trial. I see my job every week as a trial and I want to try and make sure our players see it that way.

"Because I think we all perform better under a wee bit of pressure.

"I'm a new manager at a club that is expected to be in the Premiership.

"And that's where we all want to be."

Carsley, out of action for two and a half months, appreciates the fact that Souness has given him as much time as he needed to recover from a painful broken bone in his foot. For the midfielder will still experience some discomfort when he steps up from reserve and practice games to the real thing against Pompey.

But he confirmed his eagerness to return after the manager revealed he would be in today's starting line-up.

"The injury couldn't really have happened at a worse time. I think we were seventh in the League and had a game in hand and it was all to play for," said Carsley, who has already been described by the manager as his kind of player.

"It's good to be back, it really has seemed a long time.

"And I'm just glad to be back involved.

"But the manager hasn't put any pressure on me to get fit.

"He told me to get fit in my own time and that's what I've done. It's good really, because we still have a chance with 15 points to play for."

Souness added: "With Lee it was always going to be a case of slowly, slowly because of the type of injury he got.

"Even against Portsmouth he'll still have to be careful."

The impression might have been given that Souness is keeping everyone guessing about his eventual plans by making so many changes in personnel and formations.

But the manager dismissed that suggestion. For he believes stability is one of the key factors at a successful club.

"I'm not chopping and changing to try to keep the players on their toes, you will achieve nothing in football by doing that," he said.

"I am doing it to try and see as many people as possible between now and the end of the season.

"When you hear of successful teams, you hear about the tremendous spirit they have and that doesn't come if you are making change after change in personnel.

"But I really feel we have some solid types here."

He was also encouraged by some of the signs from last Saturday's game at Wolves, despite suffering his first defeat as Rovers boss.

"I have seen us improve. I thought we were better in the first 45 minutes against Wolves, even though we lost, than we were in the first half against Sheffield United.

"So I have seen improvements collectively and individually.

"And that must continue."

Richard Dunning, who had joined Oldham on trial until the end of the season, has been forced to have knee surgery.

The young defender, who would have been available on a free transfer in summer, has returned to Ewood and will not play again this season.

It's possible that he could rejoin Oldham for pre-season training in a bid to earn a contract at Boundary Park.