ROY Hodgson is optimistic that central defender Stephane Henchoz will have recovered from a head injury in time to face Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood tonight, as his Blackburn Rovers team bid to extend their unbeaten start to four games.

And Martin Dahlin must be in the manager's thoughts for a first start after appearing in all three games as a substitute so far and scoring his first goal against Liverpool on Saturday.

On Henchoz, Hodgson said: "He had four stitches in a head wound. But it is on the top of his head, rather than the forehead. So, hopefully, he will be okay.

"We waited some time to try to get him back on Saturday but they just couldn't staunch the flow of blood and Ian Pearce substituted very ably for him."

Pearce would be the logical replacement if there are any major doubts over the Swiss international.

It will be a tough decision for the manager to change a team which has started so well.

But Dahlin - as well as Lars Bohinen - will have given him food for thought with his performance in the latter stages of the Liverpool game.

Hodgson said: "He took the goal well. He looked very lively when he went on and it's taken a while to recover his sharpness.

"He's fast as he showed when he made one 30-70 ball his own. He has pace, good strength and a decent touch. The goal will do him a world of good and help him recover his touch. "It will do him far more good than any words from me."

Dahlin said: "I have come on as substitute three times and now I am fully fit.

"My aim is to score goals. That's what I am trying to do and that is what I am going to do."

Even in his short time at Ewood, Hodgson has come across the problems of keeping everyone happy in a large squad.

But he believes the time will come when more subs will be allowed and he issued a personal plea to the Premier League to change the rules.

"We're all carrying big squads, some have up to 34 senior professionals and it is a bit harsh to leave more than half in the stands every week," he said.

"If I was a player I wouldn't mind being out of the team so long as I felt I was part of the squad.

"But it's a hell of a blow if you're left in the stand as you feel you're not participating.

"That's just a plea from a very selfish trainer to the Premier League to change their rules.

"You can't have the type of squad necessary to do well in the Premiership without having more than 11 really good players.

"You must accept these days if you're a player that it is a squad game.

"I had to leave Anders Andersson out of the 16 against Liverpool yet I think he will become an outstanding midfielder."

Greek international George Donis is one who has not yet featured this season and Rovers would almost certainly be prepared to listen if there was any interest from other clubs.

Donis lost his place around the time Ray Harford left and has been unable to reclaim it. With the new arrivals he hasn't even been able to get on the bench.

Tonight's starting line-up seems certain to come from the 16 on duty against Liverpool: Filan, Valery, Hendry, Henchoz, Kenna, Ripley, Flitcroft, McKinlay, Wilcox, Sutton, Gallacher, Pearce, Dahlin, Bohinen, Croft, Williams.

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