GRAHAM Fenton could be the next Blackburn Rovers player to leave Ewood Park, with West Bromwich Albion manager Ray Harford expected to launch an imminent bid to take the striker to the Hawthorns, writes PETER WHITE.

And, while Roy Hodgson continues his pruning of the squad, the Rovers boss has also been given a boost by Colin Hendry.

For he revealed last night that the Scot had not yet been ruled out of making a surprise comeback from surgery in next week's opening Premiership encounter against Derby.

Hodgson has only been in charge for four weeks but, already, he has managed to move on four first team fringe players and that total could well become five in the next couple of days.

West Brom have long kept a watching brief on Fenton, who once spent a successful loan spell with them, and Midlands sources confirmed they are about to re-activate their interest.

I understand Rovers would want around £1 million for the striker who has had his moments at Ewood but failed to establish himself as a first team regular.

Hodgson made it clear last week that, initially at least, Chris Sutton, Martin Dahlin and Kevin Gallacher were in pole position for the two main striking roles, with Per Pedersen and Fenton also challenging.

If he was to join West Brom, where he received a good reception from the fans last Saturday, Fenton would suddenly become a big fish in a smaller pool and he needs first team football if he is to progress.

I expect there to be some movement on a transfer by weekend at the latest.

While Hodgson will be prepared to let Fenton go, he is delighted at the progress being made by Hendry following ankle surgery.

"He is well in advance of where he should be," said the manager.

"We thought he would have no chance for the start of the season but now they are telling me that he might be back in training this week and might be firing to get back in the team on Saturday week.

"That would be three weeks ahead of schedule and if he can get back in that short space of time I would say it's looking very good for us."

Meanwhile, Spurs are the latest club to be linked with Graeme Le Saux, following Arsenal's statement that they would not be pursuing the left back because of the £7.5 million price tag placed on his head.

But all three major London clubs - Chelsea being the other - are bound to be linked with him as it is thought Le Saux wants to return to the capital.

It could be, however, that Premiership clubs are unwilling to meet the asking price. In which case, attention might switch abroad to the likes of Juventus and Atletico Madrid. Hodgson was full of praise for Gary Croft's contribution in last night's win, by a depleted team, at Aberdeen and it clearly gave him encouragement.

The manager has stood firm throughout the Le Saux saga and he was reported as saying today: "If he doesn't want to play he can sit in the reserves. Whether he likes to or not doesn't bother any of us because we think we are doing him an enormous favour anyway by not nailing him to the cross.

"The danger is people can take you for a mug and say 'he's worth this but we will give you that'. If that's the case, Graeme Le Saux won't go anywhere."

Hodgson also gave a short runout to trialist keeper Lance Key last night but has still to decide whether to take him on a short-term contract until Tim Flowers is fit.

He is wary of signing someone just for the sake of it.

Meanwhile, Jack Walker refused to be drawn into a war of words with Arsenal over Arsene Wenger's comments that they had over-priced Le Saux.

"I am not interested in Arsenal, I am only interested in Blackburn Rovers," he said.

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