STEPHANE Henchoz and Stuart Ripley have handed Blackburn Rovers boss Roy Hodgson a twin boost on the eve of tomorrow's Premiership clash with Southampton at Ewood.

And Henchoz, given the elbow by Gianluca Vialli in Wednesday's Coca-Cola Cup tie at Chelsea, could well come face-to-face with another rough and tough striker.

For Saints were today bidding to pull off the £2 million capture of David Hirst from Sheffield Wednesday in time for the Ewood match.

Henchoz was left stunned and sore after being struck by Vialli at Stamford Bridge but manager Roy Hodgson confirmed: "We expect him to be okay for tomorrow."

Hodgson's choices were further enhanced when winger Ripley, out of action since damaging a hamstring on England duty against Moldova almost six weeks ago, came through an hour with the reserves at Birmingham last night.

Ripley enjoyed an assist for Rovers' goal and said afterwards that he felt fine.

He will now come into contention for a return tomorrow, though he will not necessarily start.

Last night's 60 minutes were his first in serious action since suffering the injury and the manager has certainly not been displeased with recent performances. Jason Wilcox serves the second match of a three-game ban but Kevin Gallacher and Jeff Kenna, both rested in midweek, will come back into the squad. And Hodgson will make changes from Wednesday night.

They choose from: Flowers, Valery, T Pedersen, Hendry, Croft, Andersson, McKinlay, Flitcroft, Duff, Sutton, Dahlin, Henchoz, Sherwood, Bohinen, Gallacher, Kenna, Fettis, Ripley.

Southampton have already lost striker Egil Ostenstad and could also be without Matt Le Tissier, who is a major doubt with a thigh injury.

They will be keen to do everything possible to get Le Tissier on the pitch, as his recent return has given the side a boost and helped them win three games in a row.

But the injuries prompted manager David Jones to step up his search for replacements and he targeted Hirst, who is out of favour at Hillsborough.

Ex-Rover Robbie Slater could be a contender for a first team place if Le Tissier fails to make it.

Saints intended to add Hirst to the squad if the signing went through in time. Otherwise, they will choose from: Jones, Dodd, Monkou, Dryden, Lundekvam, Benali, Charlton, Oakley, Palmer, Richardson, Le Tissier, Slater, Davies, Evans, Johansen, Todd, Williams, Maddison, Taylor.

Gianluca Vialli has admitted he deserved to be sent off for using his elbow on Stephane Henchoz on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old Italian striker confessed: "I used my elbows and that is not acceptable. At my age I should know better and it will not happen again. Now I have to see what my punishment is."

Vialli had been angered by another off-the-ball incident minutes earlier when Patrick Valery was cautioned.

"I was very nervous because a few minutes before something unpleasant happened to me. When something like that happens you get nervous because you do not know if it will happen again and it's very difficult to control your reactions.

"But a player like me has such a long experience and shouldn't do things like that."

Per Pedersen's long-term loan deal to Borussia Moenchengladbach, with an option to buy the Dane, could go through later today.

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