SIMON Barker is set for a nostalgic return to Ewood tomorrow as an 'old head' guiding a Port Vale squad which includes a number of young, inexperienced faces.

The former Rovers midfielder is on a short-term contract at Vale, after joining them on a free early last season.

And Barker, now 34 and a one-time Ewood record sale, admitted this could be the last time he returns to Blackburn as a player.

But he does not expect to find too much has changed.

"It's always nice going back and a lot of people are still working there," said Barker, who left Rovers for QPR in a £400,000 deal in 1988. "It's just that they are swankier suites now!"

Barker has a deal until November but could still be an important figure for manager Brian Horton and he emphasised the need for everyone at the club to pull together after a minimum of changes in summer.

"It's quite a young team and people are writing them off," he said. "But it's important to get off to a good start and pull together and work for each other. If you look at someone like Manchester United, even though they have a lot of money, they all work for each other.

"That's what we have to do."

The suspension of summer signing Tommy Widdrington increases Barker's chances of claiming a midfield berth tomorrow.

Vale are tipped by many people to take the drop, while Rovers are expectd to lead the way at the other end of the table.

Horton, however, speaks only about 11 men v 11 men . . .

"Blackburn are the favourites but the bookies have been known to get it wrong occasionally," he warned.

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