AUSTRALIAN teenager Scott Hynds is to have trials with Blackburn Rovers.

But Premiership rivals Nottingham Forest are also looking at the young midfield player and he is set to train with Falkirk as well.

Hynds, who has a Scottish background which should enable him to play in England without work permit problems, is a mainstay of South Melbourne's successful youth side.

He plays for the top Aussie club in the National Youth League and, on hearing that he was due to visit Britain, Rovers' Academy director Bobby Downes got in touch.

Downes recently went on a fact-finding mission to Australia to establish contacts with a view to looking at any younggsters who showed outstanding potential.

The player is expected to visit Forest first, do some training with Falkirk and then join the Ewood youngsters for a time so that the Academy staff can take a closer look at him.

"We only want the best and this is an ideal opportunity to look at a player who obviously has some potential," said Downes.

Chris Sutton was awarded Rovers' Wilkinson Sword Premier Player award this week for his performance on his return at Coventry.

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