BRIAN Kidd could well be back in the transfer market soon but Blackburn Rovers joined forces with Harry Redknapp today to refute reports that they had already made a £4 million bid for midfielder Steve Lomas.

They have also been linked with Manchester United's young defender John Curtis and midfielder Nicky Butt.

And chief executive John Williams confirmed that those names - like that of Liverpool defender Rob Jones - had been mentioned while the manager was putting together a lengthy list of possible targets.

But he added that there had not been a single bid for any of them so far.

Redknapp dismissed reports of the offer for Lomas as "absolute rubbish" and Williams said that was spot on.

But midfield is an area where Rovers have been badly hit, by Tim Sherwood's move and Garry Flitcroft's injury.

It would be no surprise to see something happen soon.

Kidd was not interested in talking about the sixth round draw, preferring just to think about the Premiership game at Chelsea on Wednesday night.

But a home tie with Everton is a huge incentive for both Rovers and Newcastle to win the Ewood replay.

The game will not be shown 'live' by Sky as they have chosen the Spurs-Leeds replay and, for the sixth round, Manchester United v Chelsea. ITV have yet to decide their quarter-final tie.

Kidd was delighted with the way the whole team defended yesterday, with a special word for Marlon Broomes.

"He was unbelievable, young Marlon has come on in leaps and bounds," he said.

"But you defend from the front and the two front lads also worked their socks off.

"I took young Damien Duff off because he was going out on the back of an international when he had done so well against Paraguay.

"He's only a young lad and they feel it.

"Another youngster David Dunn got a knock and we think he had a bit of concussion. "But we couldn't have asked for any more from the players."

Rovers have not yet given up all hope of obtaining Duff's release from the World under-20 championships to be held in Nigeria this April.

Concern is now being expressed about the players' health.

Leeds have three players affected by the tournament, Stephen McPhail, Alan Maybury and Damien Lynch.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale said: "We are very concerned. We are looking into the situation but we have not put a timetable on it.

"The FAI have written to us with details of the eight jabs players will have to take as well as malaria tablets .

"We are very concerned because they could have an affect on the players from the moment they start taking them.

"We are consulting our club doctors but the health of the players is paramount."

Williams said: "Damien has already started his medical treatment but we haven't thrown in the towel. We think he should be regarded as a senior player and not be involved in a youth tournament."

One additional blow for Rovers is that they will now lose Chris Sutton to suspension for one game after picking up his eighth yellow card of the season at Newcastle.

At first, referee Dermot Gallagher showed a red card but had made a mistake and everyone finished laughing about it. "It was so quick really, I saw him laughing when he pulled the red card out so I thought he was either enjoying it or he had made a mistake," said Sutton.

The striker was also featured on TV as the ructions from the Arsenal v Sheffield United tie prompted reshowings of the incident when Rovers grabbed a controversial equaliser at Highbury a couple of years ago from a 'throw-in' dispute.

But Sutton said: "It's totally ridiculous to compare the two incidents. We were one down and I didn't directly do anything.

"I thought they were trying to waste time so I chased him down. Then they had a corner to defend and if they had defended it properly they wouldn't have been moaning.

"In fairness, Arsenal seem to have handled it well."

Jack Walker and Tom Finn have been two of many witnesses called by the Premier League to the OFT hearing into the television deal.

"Mr Walker was asked to appear to give the point of view of a benefactor and he made the point that he would be very concerned if the TV money was not available to Blackburn Rovers," said Williams.

Rovers Academy under-19s thrashed Manchester United 4-0 away on Saturday. Craig Woodfield (2), Gary Hamilton and Paul Forsyth got the goals. It followed a 5-1 win over United earlier in the season.

The under-17s, also away to United, drew 1-1 with Steve Foster scoring the goal to claim a well-deserved point.

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