DON Hutchison is ready to nursemaid Everton's young guns out of relegation trouble and towards Premiership survival.

Like Rovers, Everton have been forced to entrust their hopes of beating the drop once again to a number of less-experienced hands.

Both teams have suffered by losing key players to injury and suspension.

But Goodison boss Walter Smith has seen a chance of salvation in Hutchison, one-time rebel whose future prospects at the top level seemed to be like his fuse - short!

And the player has responded to wily Walter's encouragement, his manager praising Hutchison for his leadership, commitment and the tremendous example he has set to the younger players.

At Ewood tonight, Hutchison, whose transformation could even earn him his first full Scottish cap later this month, will face Rovers either from midfield or as a fully-fledged attacker.

His ability to fill either role has proved a major asset to Smith and could play a significant part in what is a crucial game for both clubs.

And the 27-year-old Geordie is relishing the extra responsibilities of trying to inspire the younger players around him from a much more mature standpoint than some might have thought possible.

"It comes about with age and experience I suppose and I do enjoy it," he said.

"I may have been a bit of a scally a few years back but that's all behind me now. "There's a lot of young players in the squad and I find myself being one of the senior lads who needs to look after the kids a bit.

"It's nice to have grown up a lot, I suppose, and I let my football do the talking now.

"That's the way I want my career to progress. I actually enjoy this sort of responsibility.

"It's funny really, after the way people maybe used to see me."

Hutchison has reshaped his career on the pitch with some impressive performances, despite the fact that Everton have continued to struggle this season with takeover speculation hardly helping their cause.

But he is also content off the field and expects to discuss a new contract.

"The new contract will have to wait now until the end of the season. I had a chat about it and I'm happy to leave it until then," he said.

"I've said to the club that I am 27 now, I'm getting married in the summer and want to start a family.

"So if the club gave me a contract for life I would sign it, no problem."

What happens to Everton at the season's end could have a major bearing on that and there is little doubt that tonight's clash will be influential in the outcome of the relegation battle - for both teams.

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