PETER WHITE previews Rovers v Chelsea RUUD Gullit reckons Gianluca Vialli is worthy of being a contender again for the Italian national team.

Yet he frequently fails to find a place for the Italian hot-shot in the Chelsea line-up!

The former Juventus striker is one of the great enigmas of English football at the moment but it shows just how far Chelsea have progressed when they can so often leave a player of Vialli's quality on the bench.

Gullit's insistence on playing a sort of Russian roulette with his squad has worked perfectly for the Chelsea player-manager so far this season.

But, when he has given Vialli his head in the Premiership, the Italian's ability has shone through - illustrated by his four-goal feat at Barnsley early in the season.

And, in European games, he has had a crucial role, not least against Tromso as Chelsea somehow survived an almighty scare thanks to his goals.

When Rovers and Chelsea clashed at Stamford Bridge in the Coca-Cola Cup, Vialli also figured prominently, but the phrase Italian 'hit-man' was interpreted wrongly and he finished up being shown the red card for leaving Stephane Henchoz with a facial injury.

But at least Vialli was man enough to make a full apology for his actions shortly afterwards and that earned him a lot of credit.

Whether he has done enough to earn a place in Chelsea's side at Ewood tomorrow remains to be seen, but Gullit has a habit of rotating his strikers - and it might just be his turn.

Despite the striker's limited appearances in the Premiership so far this season, our Carling Opta ratings show some impressive statistics.

A 92 per cent pass completion rate, 60 per cent completion on crosses and 75 per cent for dribbles are the sort of figures which would guarantee him a place in many sides.

But the 33-year-old thinks his manager has got it wrong over an international return.

"This season I am fitter and sharper and really happy to play and score goals for Chelsea," said Vialli.

"But I think it would be a problem for Cesare Maldini to pick me for Italy now.

"There are so many strong forwards in his squad like Zola and Vieiri. If he calls me it is another story and I would never be able to say no. But I do not think it will happen."

Vialli has been the most obvious victim of Gullit Stamford Bridge shuffles.

But the Italian hit man cannot say he wasn't warned.

Just days after Vialli starred in the 6-0 destruction of Barnsley, Gullit re-iterated the stance that there were no automatic choices.

And his message has now clearly got through.

"They realise now it's a squad thing," said the player-manager. "Everyone understands how it works but I still want players to be disappointed if they aren't playing. It's only human.

"We want to make them aware this is the policy that will work for them.

"If you want to play as an individual you go and play tennis.

"The FA Cup was not won by the 11 players who played that day - it was won by the others who played through the season. We had players who did not want to play that way and they had to leave. I didn't want them to go but they did and, at the end of the year, we had silverware here and they didn't.

"It's not a game I'm playing. I don't want to try and be clever and I'm not always wondering what the opposing manager is thinking. That's not the point.

"The point is that, in certain games, I need certain players.

"I work in a professional club and I want to make it as professional as possible.

"Manchester United have done this for a long time. It just takes time for everybody to get used to it."

Whether Vialli plays or not will be up to Gullit but, with a player of such calibre, there is always a fair chance and he should at the very least have a role as a substitute.

The Italian gave up smoking earlier this year to improve his fitness in a bid to claim a more regular place.

And, as Chelsea's leading scorer, he can hardly do more to claim a regular shirt. But the competition is fierce as Gianfranco Zola seems a long-time Gullit favourite, with Mark Hughes and Tore Andre Flo contesting the other place.

Whoever plays, Rovers' defenders will have to be on their mettle.

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