ROY Hodgson has lost one winger - Stuart Ripley - for tomorrow's Premiership clash with Leeds United at Ewood.

But he will have another, Jason Wilcox, back in action as Rovers bid to emerge from the weekend's programme still on top of the table.

If they do, it should mean a double celebration for central defender Colin Hendry, set to make his 300th full League appearance for the club.

Having been forced to sit out Scotland's latest World Cup win because of the head injury he received in the 2-1 win at Crystal Palace, Hendry is expected to be fighting fit to face Leeds.

And he will become only the 17th player in Rovers' history to top 300 League 'starts' for them.

Hendry looks like maintaining his partnership with Stephane Henchoz. That means Ian Pearce who, as we revealed in last night's later editions, has asked for a transfer - with a £3 million fee on his head - will be sidelined.

Tore Pedersen's arrival means there is even more competition in that area.

It's elsewhere that Hodgson's concerns will lie, though Pearce too is ruled out with a calf problem.

The extent of Ripley's injury is not yet known.

"Until such time when the injury settles down, the physio won't be able to make a thorough examination of the thigh and muscle," he said.

"At the moment it's impossible to do that type of examination." Billy Mckinlay is still out with his groin injury and, while new man Tore Pedersen and Tim Sherwood could probably play if needed, the manager really wants them to have more games.

Chris Sutton is a slight doubt, suffering a little reaction to two hard weeks work on the training ground but Hodgson has "high hopes" he will be fit.

Kevin Gallacher could well switch to the right to replace Ripley, with Wilcox returning.

Rovers seem likely to pick a starting line-up from: Flowers, Valery, Hendry, Henchoz, Kenna, Flitcroft, Bohinen, Gallacher, Sutton, Dahlin, Wilcox, Duff, Andersson, Croft, T Pedersen, Fettis.

Hodgson is not reading too much into Leeds' indifferent start.

"We think they're a team for the top half of the table, just like we consider ourselves," he said.

Italian Michele Zeoli, who plays with minor league side Pro Vercelli, has trained with Rovers but it will not necessarily lead to a signing.

Hodgson admitted that if they are to make another signing soon, it would probably come from a different level.

Leeds manager George Graham is unlikely to make sweeping changes, although Lee Bowyer could return to midfield.

They will probably choose from: Martyn, Beeney, Robertson, Wetherall, Radebe, Molenaar, Halle, Ribeiro, Hopkin, Bowyer, Haaland, Kelly, Kewell, Hasselbaink, Wallace, Lilley, Laurent.

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