Peter White reports from Sweden

ROY HODGSON hopes to give his £2 million striker Martin Dahlin a Blackburn Rovers debut against Hvidovre in Copenhagen tomorrow, after the Swedish international has spent the week playing "catch-up" with his new team mates.

News of Dahlin's first appearance will be eagerly awaited by Rovers fans who have been waiting all summer for a big name striker to arrive.

It's only a week since the Dahlin deal was wrapped up with his former club Roma and Hodgson is reluctant to take any chances with his fitness.

Providing the player rounds off a good week's training this evening, however, he is expected to get the nod to play at least half of tomorrow's final tour game against Hvidovre.

"If he comes through it will be good for him and he would enjoy a game," said Hodgson.

"But the most important thing for us is to work hard on his fitness, because we need him to catch up the four or five days that the others are in advance of him." Dahlin stayed behind at Rovers' training camp on Tuesday when the squad travelled to Norrkoping for the three-cornered tournament, which they won convincingly.

The idea was for him to take in some work he had missed while his transfer was being negotiated.

"He's looking in good shape, he's not carrying any weight and it's just the endurance and strength training that he obviously missed out on," said Hodgson.

"It was a good opportunity for him to pick up two of those sessions. He missed maybe eight sessions and was able to get two of them back."

Dahlin himself is eager to play. He had been hoping to face either Dundee United or Norrkoping on Tuesday.

He actually linked up with the squad before last Saturday's opener against IFK Gothenburg, but it was unrealistic for him to play in that one.

He said: "I am well, but in a way it was a little bit early for me to play because I had only been training three times."

If Dahlin, as expected, plays tomorrow it will be interesting to see who partners him. Rovers have so many choices available for the front two positions and they all want to play.

Per Pederson, for example, pointed out: "This is a very big season for me. When I first came I said I needed time to settle in, now I am hoping I can show what I can do."

There's no doubt that competition for places keeps players on their toes and Rovers, who will probably use as many players as possible again tomorrow, have no shortage of that.

Hvidovre have just been relegated from the Danish Super League so Rovers will be looking to win, even though the priority is fitness with no injuries.

Kick off time is 3pm.

Season ticket sales have now gone through the 13,000 mark at Ewood Park.

And Blackburn Rovers are hoping for another pre-season boost, especially if new striker Dahlin can make an early impact.

Last season, Rovers sold between 15-16,000 so they are still down on that figure, despite upping individual match prices to make season tickets better value.

Rovers chairman Robert Coar said: "There are still three weeks to go to the new season and it would be nice to think we could equal last year's figures.

"We have signed several new players and with our new manager in place we are confident we are back on the right track.

"What we need now is the backing of all our fans so that we can get off to as good a start as possible both on and off the field."

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