Blackburn Rovers beat off competition from the top end of the Premiership to sign Republic of Ireland international Lee Carsley.

The Derby County midfielder has joined Rovers for £3.375 million in a deal that will keep him at Ewood Park until June, 2003.

And his capture from a club chasing a UEFA Cup spot - and from the advances of others with similar aspirations - proves that despite their current perilous position, Rovers still boast some pulling power.

"He was one of the targets we identified and I know for a fact there's a team in the top five that was ready to take him. "And that speaks volumes for Rovers," said delighted Blackburn boss Brian Kidd, who was also boosted last night by a four-goal salvo from Kevin Davies.

Davies' goal glut helped Rovers reserves beat Derby 6-1 in the Pontin's League Premier Division and should do wonders for the player's confidence after his struggle for form and goals following his record move to Ewood Park.

Carsley has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for their scheduled European Championship qualifier against Macedonia this weekend because of an ankle injury.

But he is eyeing up a debut at home to Middlesbrough on Easter Saturday.

"I am not going (to Macedonia). I am concentrating on being 100 per cent fit for the Middlesbrough game.

"I'm running already but if there was a game on Saturday I would have to say I'm not 100 per cent fit.

"But we have got two weeks now so I will be all right," said Carsley. The 25-year-old, who will add a competitive edge to the heart of Rovers midfield, helps solve a major headache for Kidd who has been forced to operate without the injured pair of Billy McKinlay and Gary Flitcroft.

Carsley's presence in the number 15 shirt will bolster Rovers' survival hopes but Kidd stressed that his latest signing is not aimed purely at winning a relegation battle. "I wouldn't have taken him if it was short-term," insisted Kidd.

"We identify our targets early on and certainly none of them have been a rush job and a panic buy.

"In fact it's gone the other way because everyone was saying because of the way we were 'go on and buy' but I wouldn't buy for buying's sake.

"It had to be the one I wanted for the club, for the future of Blackburn Rovers which is important I feel.

"We were fortunate because we had been tracking Lee for a while and I know that other clubs in the top five were after him or interested in him. "We want competition for places and I think that's an obvious one the way we are injury-wise in midfield."

Kidd highlighted both Carsley's ability and character as reasons for what is likely to be the last bit of incoming transfer activity at Ewood before Thursday's transfer deadline.

"I can't see anything else happening," confirmed the Rovers boss.

"The targets are identified and we've been lucky some have come up and we've gone for them because I am trying to formulate a squad and I want competition for places. I don't want the team picking itself.

"It's another part of the jigsaw and until we get the complete picture and we will be working away at it.

"With the type of player we are getting in I believe we are on our way to formulating a squad that will be able to do okay and overcome most problems." The re-arranged talk-in with Rovers goalkeepers is being staged by the club's supporters' association in the centenary suite at Ewood Park tonight (7.30 for 8pm).

Tickets bought for the original date are still valid with tickets also available in advance at £2 for members and £3 for non-members.

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