BRIAN Kidd was today named as the Premiership's Carling manager of the month for December - just five weeks after taking charge of Blackburn Rovers.

The award for Kidd, still wrestling with a host of injury problems for tomorrow's Ewood clash with Leeds United, underlines the impact he has made in his first Premiership job as a manager.

Rovers were unbeaten in all five League games in December and the panel said: "Brian Kidd has made an impressive start to his top-flight managerial career.

"The experience he gained as a key member of the Manchester United set-up is serving him well at Blackburn."

But the champagne will go on ice for a boss who continually stresses he is no one-man band and that a "team" effort is required to rebuild Rovers.

Kidd faces a late casualty roll-call before the Leeds game, admitting that he has been forced to wrap his stars in cotton wool during the build-up.

He still isn't sure how many of the injured players will be ready to return, though new £4.5 million striker Ashley Ward will make an Ewood debut. Who takes the other striking role, however, is still in question.

Kidd will have to look closely at Nathan Blake, who has only just recovered from a debilitating virus, and Kevin Gallacher, who has been suffering from a niggling calf strain.

Chris Sutton is on the long-term injured list and Kevin Davies serves a one-match suspension.

Doubts remain over several players who missed the cup victory, with a variety of knocks, though central defender Darren Peacock is available again after a one-game ban.

"It's very much the same situation as last week," said Kidd. "It has been a bit of a toil because of the injuries and we could well have to wait right to the death.

"We are hoping some of them will be available. To be honest, it's been a case of wrapping some of them in cotton wool this week.

"But we'll go with whatever we have got. We know the job on our hands and it is going to take a team effort on behalf of all the players and the staff to get the results we need.

Full backs Jeff Kenna and Callum Davidson, skipper Tim Sherwood and central defender Christian Dailly were among those forced to sit out last Saturday's game with various strains.

Dailly is struggling but the others have not yet been ruled out of the Leeds clash, with the two full backs appearing to have the best chances of making it.

Sherwood has also shown on a number of occasions in the past that he has been prepared to play through the pain barrier for the side and, if at all possible, he is likely to nominate himself as fit. Billy McKinlay took over the skipper's armband in Sherwood's absence last week. Kidd added: "There will not be any extra pressure put on players. If they are fit, fine. If not then we have to accept that.

"There are enough demands on the players without bringing them back too early."

Rovers will hope to add several players to the squad which beat Charlton but Kidd might not be able to finalise his team until shortly before kick-off time tomorrow.

The starting line-up is expected to come from: Filan, Perez, Henchoz, Broomes, Croft, Gillespie, Marcolin, McKinlay, Wilcox, Gallacher, Ward, Blake, Peacock, Sherwood, Kenna, Davidson, Dunn, Duff.

Leeds have David Wetherall back at the heart of the defence alongside Jonathan Woodgate.

Leeds choose from: Martyn, Haaland, Wetherall, Wijnhard, Hasselbaink, Ribeiro, Bowyer, Hopkin, Granville, Halle, Kewell, Harte, Woodgate, McPhail, Smith, Jackson, Robinson.

Rovers are maintaining their interest in Liverpool's Jason McAteer but there is no chance of a swap deal involving Sebastien Perez as suggested in one of today's national newspapers.

Perez's only reason for wanting to leave Ewood is to return to France for family reasons and I understand Liverpool have no interest in the player.

Meanwhile, Tim Flowers has continued his comeback by playing in a practice game at Brockhall but is not yet ready to challenge for a recall.

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