CHRIS Sutton will have a crucial role to play for Blackburn Rovers this season, stressed Roy Hodgson today, writes PETER WHITE.

There has been more speculation linking Liverpool with a move for Sutton but Hodgson said: "He's a player who is not for sale.

"And if Roy Evans had been serious about Chris Sutton, we would have spoken, because we are good friends and I have heard nothing.

"He will be a key man in Blackburn's hopes of having a good season.

"There are three people in pole position for the striking roles, Chris Sutton, Kevin Gallacher and Martin Dahlin.

"We have also got Per Pedersen and Graham Fenton, very good players who can come in for the front positions too.

"It will not be easy to pick what I think is my best 11 and it could be that will change if players start to convince me that I haven't picked the best side."

Martin Dahlin, set to miss this afternoon's friendly at West Brom because of a slight calf strain, is looking forward to playing in the Premiership.

He could be fit for Wednesday's trip to Aberdeen. Saying that he shouldn't be compared to Alan Shearer, Dahlin declared: "Since I started playing football, everybody tells me I should come to England. It will suit me perfectly.

"I am here to try to help make Blackburn a better team, I am not thinking about trying to score as many goals as Alan Shearer.

"The English league is getting better all the time and at least 10 or 12 of the Roma squad wanted to come to England," said Dahlin.

Tomorrow it will be exactly 100 years to the day that Rovers first became a limited company.

Latest £500 Double Your Money winner is B Wright (Blackburn), number 571A.

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