SAINTS striker Mike Evans was once desperate to play for Blackburn Rovers - now he wants to put them back on skid row at the Dell tomorrow, writes PETER WHITE.

Hot-shot Evans has already shaken the survival hopes of West Ham and Coventry with goals in the last two games at the Dell.

And now he has set his sights on Rovers - the club he almost joined nearly five years ago - declaring: "I would love to make it a hat-trick."

But for an accident of fate, Southampton's recent £500,000 signing from Plymouth could well have been lining up in a blue and white shirt himself and trying to sink the Saints.

For he was taken on extended loan from Home Park by Kenny Dalglish in October 1992, playing in the reserves for a couple of months, and was on the verge of making his move to Ewood permanent.

But he was recalled for what would have been a farewell Plymouth appearance at Scarborough and severely damaged his ankle ligaments.

That put him out of action for six months and cost him a dream transfer.

But he has no regrets at how things have worked out.

"At the time I was gutted but I am a great believer in fate and it must be that it wasn't right for me," he said today.

"I'm not bitter, it could be the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm happy with the way things have worked out.

"I was only young at the time and I would probably have had a couple of years in the reserves there, so I never sit and think I might have had a title medal. "With Alan Shearer and Mike Newell, then Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallacher, there was a lot of competition for places and I could have got passed over.

"I feel my game benefited by staying and playing first team football at Plymouth."

Evans' call to the Premiership finally came in February and he intends to make the most of it by helping Saints stay up.

"We're on a roll at the moment and it would be good to keep that going against Blackburn," he added.

Tony Parkes, who remembers Evans and the impression he made, has problems over his own strike force tomorrow, with Chris Sutton's chances of returning from a hamstring strain hinging on a late fitness check.

He expects Billy McKinlay to recover from knee problems and no news was good news for the Rovers boss as far as his international players were concerned.

To ensure they had as much rest as possible, Parkes revealed that some of those who had been abroad would link up with the rest of the squad en route to Southampton today. As it stands now, we still need three points," said Parkes.

"After tomorrow's games it could all alter.

"The biggest problem we have at the moment is the number of international players we have had away.

"I haven't seen half a dozen of them since we beat Sheffield Wednesday. Yet we are supposed to be preparing for a game."

Rovers' starting line-up is set to come from: Flowers, Kenna, Berg, Hendry, Pearce, Le Saux, Sherwood, McKinlay, Flitcroft, Sutton, Gallacher, Donis, Pedersen, Fenton, Marker, Wilcox, Given.

Saints will be without defenders Jason Dodd (suspended) and Claus Lundekvam (injured). Matt Le Tissier is fit again after recovering from a hamstring injury but might have to settle for a place on the bench.

They are set to include ex-Rover Robbie Slater and are unbeaten in six games.

Graeme Souness will choose from: Taylor, Van Gobbel, Dryden, Monkou, Neilson, Benali, Oakley, Magilton, Slater, Berkovic, Ostenstad, Evans, Le Tissier, Maddison, Basham, Beasant.

Evans has been chosen as Carling Player of the Month and Graeme Souness has been named Carling Manager of the Month for spearheading Southampton's climb away from the foot of the Premiership.

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