The ball's in Sherwood's court

Jason McAteer and Matt Jansen will face Spurs tomorrow, by which time the suspended Sherwood could well have decided to join the London club in a move worth just over £4 million.

Manager Brian Kidd today confirmed that Sherwood had held talks with Spurs.

He said: "He went for talks yesterday and, as far as I know, that's where it was left."

And I understand that Rovers are now ready to let him go if Sherwood reaches an agreement with their Premiership rivals.

Chief executive John Williams would only shoot down speculation that more Ewood talks with the player had been lined up - as has been claimed.

"We made our final offer on Tuesday and that was rejected. We have not re-opened talks or improved our terms," he said. Sherwood is still tied to a lengthy contract at Ewood which remains valid if he the Tottenham talks prove fruitless. But, in what has been a messy saga, I believe a decision has been reached by the club not to stand in his way if Sherwood decides he will be better off with a move.

It seems to be a case of enough is enough as far as Rovers are concerned.

Kidd, meanwhile, is more intent on trying to pick up valuable points tomorrow and his latest £4 million signing from Liverpool, Jason McAteer, was training with his new team-mates at Brockhall today.

"Leaving Liverpool was the biggest decision of my life," admitted McAteer.

"It was very emotional for me and I cried all the way home from the training ground.

"But I have thought about things very seriously and this is the right time for me to move on. It was my boyhood dream to play for Liverpool but I have done that now. "It's a massive club but so is Blackburn and I can't wait to get started.

"I felt Blackburn was right for me."

Kidd is excited about his fourth major capture.

"I was really made up about it, to get a talent like Jason is great for Rovers. I know we had a lot of opposition and I am delighted he has come here."

Jansen can also expect to start against Spurs and he has had to wait almost a fortnight after being cup tied against Sunderland last weekend.

"I've enjoyed the training and I just want some games now," said the striker.

"It has dragged on a bit over the past couple of weeks but I am looking forward to the game and just hope that I am involved."

The former Crystal Palace and Carlisle striker scored in his first full Premiership game for Palace, against Newcastle last season and he is not particularly nervous about the prospects of his Rovers debut.

"There are always some pre-match nerves, a few butterflies but I am not really the type of player who gets very nervous," he said.

Kidd admitted he had several players to check again, because of a variety of knocks, before finalising his squad to face Tottenham. But keeper John Filan has shaken off the after-effects of the fall he suffered against Sunderland.

Of the long-term absentees, Kevin Gallacher has suffered a further set-back and now needs a scan on his calf.

Kevin Davies has made progress and Chris Sutton was welcomed back to full training with the squad yesterday although neither seem likely to figure tomorrow.

And Nathan Blake has picked up a neck knock and is now doubtful.

Kidd was delighted to see Sutton back and said: "He did tremendously well and his presence gave everybody a lift."

Billy McKinlay joins Sherwood on the banned list after collecting five bookings.

Rovers' starting line-up seems likely to come from: Filan, Kenna, Henchoz, Broomes, Davidson, Gillespie, Dunn, Wilcox, Duff, Ward, Blake, Jansen, McAteer, Peacock, Croft.

Spurs manager George Graham must make at least one change for the trip to Ewood, as David Ginola serves a one-match suspension after collecting eight bookings. They will choose from: Walker, Carr, Vega, Campbell, Edinburgh, Fox, Freund, Anderton, Sinton, Armstrong, Iversen, Ferdinand, Calderwood, Taricco, Neilsen, Clemence, Baardsen.

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