FORMER fans favourite Howard Kendall brings his struggling Everton to Ewood Park on Saturday knowing that there will be no old pals act. Underfire Kendall is feeling the heat at Goodison Park after a poor start to the season - and is being tipped to be the next Premiership managerial casualty. While the Everton boss could do with a morale-boosting first away win of the season he knows he will not be getting any help from former teammates Tony Parkes and Derek Fazackerley - who are on the current Rovers coaching staff.

The three played together between 1979 and 1981 when Kendall, as Rovers first and only player/manager, guided Rovers out of the old Third Division only to miss out on promotion to the First Division on goal difference.

Having made 92 appearances, Kendall left the following season to join Everton and became the most successful manager in their history. But two league championships, an FA Cup and a European Cup-Winners Cup seems to count for nothing as Kendall, now in his third spell on Merseyside, is one of the front runners in the managerial sack race.

These are sticky times for the Toffeemen. Just three wins all season, leaving them languishing in the bottom four, is grim reading for one of the Premiership's fallen giants.

A public outburst against his players at Highfield Road after Everton lost 4-1 in the Coca Cola Cup seemed to be the last straw. But a super-charged 2-0 victory against Liverpool just four days later restored some much-needed pride.

Kendall himself admits he cannot bring back the glory days overnight and is shocked that his position is under threat.

In contrast, Rovers are on the up-and-up and have yet to be beaten away from home. And the bizarre 4-3 defeat against Leeds United at Ewood Park in September is the only blot on Roy Hodgson's copy book.

Hodgson may be forced into a change this weekend as Colin Hendry's 42-match ever-present League run is under threat after twisting his knee in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Barnsley.

At the other end of the scale, wing-wizard Damien Duff will be hoping to start his fourth consecutive League game after breaking into the first team this season.

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