ROY Hodgson is grooming his young pups to help Blackburn Rovers re-establish themselves among the Premiership's top dogs.

The Rovers boss, still looking to strengthen his squad, stressed that the emergence of young home-grown players such as Damien Duff and Marlon Broomes will be a key to a successful Ewood future.

Particularly encouraged by the performances of young Irish ace Duff since he broke into the first team, Hodgson explained that a balance between bought-in players and those who came through the ranks was probably the ideal way to build for a club like Rovers.

And that is not least because of the fierce competition which exists when any top-quality player comes on today's market.

"You can't just rely on buying, because there are a limited number of players around," said the manager.

"And there are a large number of clubs who can buy the good player when he becomes available.

"I think one of the best ways of assuring your future is to make sure there are some good young players who, with good coaching and breeding of good habits during their formative years, will come into the team.

"We think we have a few.

"I don't know if we have got as many as Manchester United have had. They have been really successful on that front and I don't know if we will be able to do that. "But if you can bring one or two through and you can hold on to your club servants, which we have also managed to do quite well, then you limit the amount of forays you make into the market."

Having come to Ewood from Inter Milan, Hodgson knows all about buying players.

He is also aware that patience is an important factor if a club is to be successful in its youth policy.

"Inter buy players for fun," he said. "The team that wants success yesterday keeps chasing the names.

"You need a club philosophy and I think we are looking to achieve the right balance.

"I do hope we can produce some players from the region and try to make sure that the local talent comes to us."

Meanwhile, Hodgson was hopeful that Chris Coleman could get another run out with the reserves in their re-arranged game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough tonight.

Players such as Anders Andersson, Alan Fettis and Tore Pedersen will benefit from 90 minutes match action and, if Coleman is able to play and comes through, then the defender won't be far away from challenging for a place in the Premiership squad.

The Welsh international suffered a knock on the back in his last reserve outing.

With Jason Wilcox having just one more game to sit out of his three-match suspension, Rovers could soon have a full-strength squad available.

Stuart Ripley is all clear again now, having returned to first team duty, and, apart from Coleman, Marlon Broomes was the only other injury victim and he is on the brink of playing again too.

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