MATT Jansen trained with Blackburn Rovers' first team squad yesterday and looks as though he could be back in the reckoning for Saturday's opening First Division game against Port Vale at Ewood.

The return of Jansen, a certainty for the 16 if he is fit, will be a boost for Rovers boss Brian Kidd, who is already resigned to being without two of his five-strong senior strike force in Ashley Ward and Nathan Blake.

"Matt should be okay but we'll need to keep an eye on him to check for any reaction," said the manager.

Jansen suffered a kick on the knee and a slightly twisted ankle in last Tuesday's friendly at Oldham.

He missed the Liverpool game but was cleared to get back to football work yesterday.

With a number of players already ruled out of the big kick-off, Kidd will welcome any good news on the fitness front.

And Jansen is the type of player who offers something different and could prove to be a matchwinner for them this season.

As he welcomed back Jansen, Kidd also added central defender Craig Short to his squad, believing he has made an important acquisition. "Craig is a very experienced and talented player, a commanding defender who knows exactly what is required," said the manager.

"His is a timely arrival and I feel sure he will prove a very sound investment for Rovers over the coming months and years.

"I am delighted to have him in my squad."

Short's move from Everton, for a total package fee of £2.1 million, was completed as expected last night, once his medical records had been received from Everton.

He has signed a four-year contract.

Short, 31, will add much-needed experience to the Ewood defensive ranks after making more than 400 senior appearances in a career that began with Scarborough and progressed via Notts County and Derby to Goodison Park.

And his arrival is particularly timely, following the loss of Darren Peacock through injury.

"Blackburn is another challenge for me and one that I am really looking forward to," said Short.

"No-one expected Rovers to be relegated from the Premiership last season and, after speaking to the manager, I know they are out to regain that status as quickly as possible.

"All I want now is to get on board and play a part in the revival."

Meanwhile, there have not been any other moves in or out, despite Rovers' interest in Bradford striker Robbie Blake and the likelihood of clubs looking at Alan Fettis as a transfer target.

The Blake situation is in deadlock with Rovers unlikely to improve what they regard as a realistic offer in the region of £2.5 million for the player.

Fettis admitted he had not heard anything about a possible move but, with the serious stuff about to start, several clubs are looking for goalkeepers.

They include Bristol City and also Barnsley, now managed by Dave Bassett. It was Bassett, then in charge of Nottingham Forest, who sold Fettis to Ewood nearly two years ago.

Former Ewood boss Roy Hodgson has returned to Switzerland to take over at Zurich club Grasshopper.

The ex-Inter Milan coach, was in charge of the Swiss national team for four years before moving to Italy. In 1994, he took Switzerland to their first World Cup finals in 28 years.

Hodgson was first linked with the job at Grasshopper during the latter days of his Rovers reign last November.

Since then, he has been mentioned regularly in connection with various jobs, notably the international posts with Australia and Wales.

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