IT could yet be a Happy Hogmanay for Colin Hendry, as the injury-hit defender is still in with a chance of making Blackburn Rovers' third round FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

Rovers boss Roy Hodgson revealed there were "no real signs of problems" after checking out the latest knee injury which forced Hendry out of Sunday's draw with Crystal Palace.

That should lay to rest some of the scare stories which have been going around, one even claiming that the player's World Cup prospects with Scotland in summer might be in jeopardy!

The manager was happy to completely dismiss such suggestions.

And the fact that Hendry was able to continue until half time after picking up the problem early in the game against Palace was evidence that it wasn't as bad as before.

Hendry's injury involves the same knee he damaged at Barnsley but there seems a fair chance he could make the Wigan game.

"We would be disappointed if he was not available," said Hodgson.

"He has been kicking the ball and running with the physios in the last couple of days."

Happily, Rovers have a top-class replacement for Hendry if needed in Norwegian Tore Pedersen, who has shown he is quite capable of forging a partnership with Stephane Henchoz in the centre of defence.

And, even if Hendry was to miss the cup tie, Rovers don't play in the Premiership again until Sunday week when they visit Derby.

Apart from the defender, suspended Billy McKinlay - available again after the cup tie - has been taking the opportunity to rest a niggling injury.

"We are nursing Billy as he has been playing through a groin problem and it has given him a chance to rest," added Hodgson.

With the Wigan match more in mind, Kevin Gallacher has also taken things more easily so far this week. Gallacher, who celebrated reaching double figures in Premiership goals on Sunday, has been carrying a slight groin problem.

But Hodgson does not envisage any problems with the striker's fitness for the cup tie and the fact that he has had the injury clearly hasn't affected his performances.

There was also good news for Gallacher at international level today, with Scotland coach Craig Brown appearing unmoved by calls for Duncan Ferguson to think again about his international future.

As things stand at the moment, the Rovers striker is favourite to lead the Scottish attack into the World Cup finals alongside Gordon Durie.

But, following Ferguson's hat-trick for Everton against Bolton at the weekend, the spotlight has again turned on the giant striker, who wrote to the Scottish FA earlier this year to announce his retirement from international football.

Brown, however, made it clear that he is more interested in the players - like Gallacher - who have done the business for him in reaching the World Cup finals.

"It is interesting and I will wait and see what happens and that is all I have to say," said Brown on Ferguson.

"I don't see why, when we have players like Alan McLaren who is out of the Scotland squad through injury, he does not get a mention.

"But a guy who has taken himself out of contention is again making headlines."

Leeds Reserves drew 1-1 with Manchester United last night to leave Rovers a point clear of the Yorkshire club at the top of the Pontin's League Premier Division. Both teams have played the same number of games.

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