BRIAN Kidd will give his Blackburn Rovers squad a rare half day off this weekend as reward for all the hard work they have put into pre season training so far.

It has been a hard slog for the players with no let-up since they reported back earlier this month.

And that applies particularly to those coming back from long-term injury.

For instance, Christian Dailly started his first senior game of any description since December 28 in Thursday's 1-1 draw with IFK Gothenburg and played a strenuous opening 45 minutes.

Rovers returned immediately after the game in Sweden to their Norwegian training camp near Fredrikstad.

The sqad are based in a picturesque location, their hotel standing in a very secluded position - so remote, in fact, that the journey from the neighbouring Fredrikstad includes a ferry ride to reach it!

But it is ideal for the kind of build up Kidd has in mind, with a training pitch just a couple of hundred yards from the hotel. And the players have been put through two rigorous training sessions most days to build up their condition ready for the start of the League programme.

"I thought our fitness showed up well in the game against Gothenburg," said Kidd.

"We didn't seem to pick up any fresh injuries and I only made a number of substitutions to save players' legs.

"You have to remember how long it is since Christian, for example, played a game. We don't want to push anyone too far at this stage."

Kidd might have made more changes against Gothenburg but for the fact his 22-man squad was affected by minor injury problems.

"I would like to give Lee Carsley a break in midfield but that depends on who is available," he added.

Rovers will be hoping to field a strong side in Lillestrom on Monday night for what will be the hardest game of their Scandinavian tour.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.