IT'S Judgment Day and counting for Blackburn Rovers manager Roy Hodgson, as he met the majority of his playing staff for the first time at the start of pre-season training today.

Hodgson, still hoping to complete at least two more incoming transfers over the next few days - striker Martin Dahlin from Roma and midfielder Anders Andersson from Malmo - admitted it was now time for analysis.

And that could lead to some departures before the start of the new season, as Rovers have a very big squad.

If he succeeds with the Dahlin and Andersson bids, it will mean Rovers have added five new men to the staff, with the possibility of more to come before the Premiership programme begins. Hodgson said: "I think five transfers at the start of a season, in a squad which is already a big one, is a substantial number of signings.

"The most important thing for me now is to look very closely at the players we have.

"My job is to analyse the staff, and I will be judging the new ones as well as the players who are already at the club and have been here for many years." Although that sounds as though Hodgson will have finished spending if he brings in his other two targets, that is not necessarily the case.

He admitted yesterday to an interest in Paul Ince, but the England man now looks certain to join Liverpool.

And, if anyone else of that class becomes available, the money is there to buy him.

Hodgson seems fairly confident of bringing in both Dahlin and Andersson.

He worked with Dahlin, likely to cost around £2 million, at Malmo and believes the striker could prove a big hit in the Premiership.

Dahlin spent most of last season with Borussia Moenchengladbach on loan, after a change of coach at Roma saw him fall out of favour, and finished as one of the Bundesliga's top scorers.

The manager added: "We are still pursuing two solutions with Anders Andersson. They would like to take Niklas Gudmundsson and I have told him if he wants a move back to Sweden we will look at a solution with Andersson involving him.

"If he wants to continue with Blackburn Rovers, then we will seek a solution on the cash front."

He will also add fitness trainer Arnaldo Longaretti and goalkeeping coach Roy Tunks to the staff.

A Rovers Veterans team take on the Media in "A Question of Sport" quiz at Ewood tonight, organised by the Supporters' Association (7-30pm for 8pm start). Admission is £2 members, £3 non-members.

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