ROY Hodgson could swoop on his former club after a Blackburn Rovers transfer spying mission to Sweden, writes TONY DEWHURST.

Chief scout Mick Brown ran the rule over several potential targets at the weekend after watching Hodgson's old club Halmstad in action.

Hodgson's link with the Swedish team goes back to the 1970s when, as coach, he led them to two championships in 1976 and 1979.

And Halmstad's Swedish international Mats Lilienberg could be the man under the Rovers spotlight.

The striker crashed in a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Helsingborg and his performance received rave reviews.

Lilienberg was with Trelleborg when they recorded their shock Euro victory over Blackburn, but did not feature in the two ties.

Lilienberg's prolific goalpower in Sweden won him a full-time move to the German Bundesligsa with Munich 1860 after finishing top scorer in the Swedish Premier League in 1993.

Brown will also have seen Helsingborg's 24-year-old central defender Andreas Jacobsson in action.

Jacobsson was named in the Sweden squad to face Byelorussia in a World Cup qualifier tonight, but he withdrew yesterday because of a knee injury.

It is clear Hodgson is keen to reshape his squad following the departure of the likes of Graeme Le Saux and Henning Berg.

Norwegian defender Tore Pedersen is currently on trial at Brockhall. Rovers today refused to become involved in national newspaper speculation over Billy McKinlay's contract situation.

The popular Scottish midfielder - out of contract at the end of this season - was reported to be the target of a number of clubs including Celtic.

The London branch of the Blackburn Rovers Supporters' Club will hold their annual dinner on Friday, October 3, venue to be announced.

Rovers' Premiership fixture against Leeds United on Sunday, September 14 is a category B fixture.

Tickets on sale from Monday, August 25. Leeds have been allocated 2,000 places. Darwen End, Upper Tier, not be used.

Rovers Reserves are in action tonight against Manchester United at Old Trafford (kick-off 7pm).

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