CRAIG Short has declared himself fit to join Tony Parkes' success-starved squad as they try to salvage something from a season that has gone desperately wrong so far.

But he will have a fight on his hands with an immediate route back to the first team looking unlikely for the rugged central defender following the impressive pairing of Christian Dailly and comeback man Marlon Broomes at Birmingham in midweek.

Parkes seems sure to keep those two at the heart of his defence for the awkward trip to Edgeley Park to face a Stockport County side on a similar slide to Rovers.

Broomes, who had not started a senior game since playing in the first three of the season, was generally acknowledged as Rovers' best player at St Andrews.

And Parkes, whose main concern will centre on how to improve his team's scoring output, was full of praise for the defensive duo.

"Marlon Broomes was outstanding at Birmingham, but so too was Christian Dailly. He also played very well," said the manager.

"I thought we defended excellently and, though it's a long time since Marlon played, he did really well.

"Darren Peacock could have played but he had a bit of a knock on his knee and I didn't think it was worth risking him with having three games this week.

"We do have a big squad and only 11 can play." Short, who has started only 10 League games since his move from Everton, admitted to feeling "guilty and embarrassed" about having so many unaccustomed injury problems and he is anxious to get back.

"It's just been so disappointing for me. It's been embarrassing if anything. If this had happened to me at Everton, at least I would have had four years service in first," he said after a successful comeback game for the reserves on Wednesday.

A double hernia and calf problems have affected him this season but he knows there have been players worse off than him in the treatment room.

"I've been lucky in my career, I can't moan. Garry Flitcroft has been in there a year and a half and Billy McKinlay's had a serious injury," admitted Short.

"I've had niggles but when I've been down I've just looked at those two and thought how long they've been out.

"It's just guilt and embarrassment more than anything, especially when you have come to a new club.

"But I feel good now. That reserve game was the hardest I've had so far and it was enjoyable playing alongside some of those young lads.

"I'm okay and I feel I'm ready.

"But I want to come back right. I don't want to be breaking down and, hopefully, I'm right now."

Martin Taylor is also returning to Ewood after his spell on loan with Darlington but, while Parkes will have plenty of options available to him in all areas, the problem is finding the right balance to score goals as well as stop them.

He must consider whether to return to 4-4-2 after playing five midfield men - successfully to a degree - at Birmingham. For tomorrow's game is one that Rovers simply need to win. Garry Flitcroft is looking stronger, Keith Gillespie is now back in action but Rovers must find the right blend to get them back on the goals trail.

Rovers will include new keeper Alan Miller in the squad and are likely to select from: Kelly, Grayson, Dailly, Broomes, Davidson, Gillespie, Dunn, McAteer, Flitcroft, Duff, Ward, Blake, Jansen, Johnson, Harkness, Short, Peacock, Miller.

Meanwhile, Stockport have signed Bury's leading goalscorer Ian Lawson in a bid to boost their own strike force.

Lawson joined Bury on a free transfer as part of the deal which took defender Chris Lucketti to Huddersfield and has proved a prolific scorer this season, into double figures despite missing a number of games through injury.

Stockport are also preparing to strap up their leading goalgetter, mdfielder Tony Dinning, who is suffering from a rib injury. Former Clitheroe keeper Carlo Nash is set to be ruled out again with a broken finger.

County are expected to choose from: Gray, Connelly, Nicholson, Bennett, Flynn, Cooper, Matthews, Gannon, Dinning, Wilbraham, Bergersen, Smith, Lawson, Woodthorpe, Allen, Hancock, Glennon.

If there are any visitors' tickets remaining, they will be made available at Edgeley Park tomorrow.

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